Chicago Sun-Times sports reporter Brian Sandalow made the ultimate blunder in mistaking the All Blacks with the Wallabies in his post-match report on the USA v New Zealand Test last weekend.
The gaffe was picked up by another journo, Olivia Carville, who Tweeted this picture. Epic fail indeed.
Standfirst in Chicago Sun Times calls the All Blacks a "legendary Aussie team". Epic fail. pic.twitter.com/blvH4pSTVC
— Olivia Carville (@livcarville) November 2, 2014
The Sun Times later issued an apology for the blunder, but not before Sandalow’s Facebook page was inundated with comments from irate – and borderline anti-American – rugby fans.
“you sir, are a stupid, ignorant fecking idiot! Typical, brainless yankee trash!” cried Heath Lunn.
Dereke Bruce was more polite: “Hi Brian Sandalow, you should perhaps sign up for basic geography buddy, the Aussies don't wear black.”
Debbie Lake had a few notes of advice: “New Zealanders and Australians are no more interchangeable than Americans and Canadians. Your headline calls us Aussies while the body of your article actual got the fact that the All Blacks are from New Zealand correct. We New Zealanders are known as Kiwis not Aussies.”
As for the angriest Kiwi rugby fan of all, Brad Cockerill … well, let’s just say in his fury he forgot about punctuation but was free-wheeling with the expletives.