Du'Plessis Kirifi issues statement after meme posted on All Blacks account after loss

All Blacks flanker Du’Plessis Kirifi has issued a statement after his social media account posted a meme on the All Blacks’ full-time post following the loss to Wales.

Kirifi’s personal Instagram account with the handle @deepblueseeee commented a meme gif on the final score post, a 35-28 win to Wales, with a popular Goodfellas meme, actor Ray Leota laughing in a white tux at a dinner table.

The comment immediately garnered a confused reaction from fans with the first response a ‘wtf?’ before the comment from Kirifi’s account was eventually removed.

Kirifi issued a statement on his Instagram Story to clarify the situation and re-iterate his support for the All Blacks.

“I want to make it clear that the comment from my account was not posted by me,” Kirifi’s statement read.

“I back the boys whether I’m in the team or not and I am guttered that something from my account suggests otherwise.

“It’s always up the All Blacks.”

Kirifi was called into the All Blacks for the Bledisloe Cup series as an injury replacement ahead of the second Test in Sydney.

He was left out of the 36-man All Blacks squad for the 2026 Nations Championship Northern Tour as Anton Segner and Ethan Blackadder returned from injury.

Both the loose forwards were in the gameday 23 that lost to Wales, with Segner starting at blindside and Blackadder coming off the bench.