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History of rugby union matches between New Zealand and South Africa

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New Zealand (the All Blacks) and South Africa (the Springboks) have been playing Test Match Rugby against each other since 1921 when the All Blacks beat the Springboks in Dunedin 13–5. It is argued to be the biggest rivalry in World Rugby history. There is considerable history behind these matches, much of it off the field. In 1981, there were numerous protests in New Zealand over the Springboks coming to tour New Zealand due to the then South African government's policy of Apartheid. Consequently, subsequent tours were cancelled and the All Blacks and Springboks did not meet again until August 1992, in Johannesburg, when the Springboks were re-admitted to World Rugby. Until 1996 New Zealand had never won a series in South Africa but South Africa had won a series in New Zealand in 1937.[1] The rivalry was close for eighty years between 1921-2000, when New Zealand led the head-to-head by 27-26. In the first 17 years of the 21st century, New Zealand compiled a 31-10 record over South Africa, but the appointment of Rassie Erasmus as coach of the Springboks in 2018 resulted in the rivalry reigniting, as South Africa lead the series 7-5 (with one draw) since his appointment.

Since 2004 New Zealand and South Africa have contested the Freedom Cup. It has remained a trophy contested annually in the Tri Nations Series/Rugby Championship since 2006.[2]

Summary

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Overall

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Details[a][4][5] Played Won by
New Zealand 		Won by
South Africa 		Drawn New Zealand points South Africa points
In New Zealand 46 33 10 3 1,003 616
In South Africa 54 25 28 1 1,076 1,016
Neutral venue 8 4 4 0 156 157
Overall 108 62 42 4 2,235 1,789

Records

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Note: Date shown in brackets indicates when the record was or last set.

Record New Zealand South Africa
Longest winning streak 8 (21 July 2001 – 14 August 2004) 6 (4 September 1937 – 14 July 1956)
World Cup Head to Head
Final 0 2
Semifinal 1 0
Third Place 0 1
Quarterfinals 1 0
Pool 1 0
Overall 3 3
Largest points for
Home 57 (16 September 2017) 46 (19 August 2000)
Away 57 (8 October 2016) 36 (15 September 2018)
Largest winning margin
Home 57 (16 September 2017) 17 (30 June 1928)
Away 42 (8 October 2016) 12 (29 August 1981)
Neutral 20 (9 November 2003) 28 (25 August 2023)
Largest aggregate score
90 (South Africa 35–55 New Zealand) (9 August 1997)

Results

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No. Date Venue Score Winner Competition
1 13 August 1921 Carisbrook, Dunedin 13–5  New Zealand 1921 South Africa tour of Australia and New Zealand
2 27 August 1921 Eden Park, Auckland 5–9  South Africa
3 17 September 1921 Athletic Park, Wellington 0–0 draw
4 30 June 1928 Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban 17–0  South Africa 1928 New Zealand tour of South Africa
5 21 July 1928 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 6–7  New Zealand
6 18 August 1928 Crusaders Ground, Port Elizabeth 11–6  South Africa
7 1 September 1928 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 5–13  New Zealand
8 14 August 1937 Athletic Park, Wellington 13–7  New Zealand 1937 South Africa tour of Australia and New Zealand
9 4 September 1937 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 6–13  South Africa
10 25 September 1937 Eden Park, Auckland 6–17  South Africa
11 16 July 1949 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 15–11  South Africa 1949 New Zealand tour of South Africa
12 13 August 1949 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 12–6  South Africa
13 3 September 1949 Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban 9–3  South Africa
14 17 September 1949 Crusaders Ground, Port Elizabeth 11–8  South Africa
15 14 July 1956 Carisbrook, Dunedin 10–6  New Zealand 1956 South Africa tour of Australia and New Zealand
16 4 August 1956 Athletic Park, Wellington 3–8  South Africa
17 18 August 1956 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 17–10  New Zealand
18 1 September 1956 Eden Park, Auckland 11–5  New Zealand
19 25 June 1960 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 13–0  South Africa 1960 New Zealand tour of Australia and South Africa
20 23 July 1960 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 3–11  New Zealand
21 13 August 1960 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein 11–11 draw
22 27 August 1960 Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth 8–3  South Africa
23 31 July 1965 Athletic Park, Wellington 6–3  New Zealand 1965 South Africa tour of Australia and New Zealand
24 21 August 1965 Carisbrook, Dunedin 13–0  New Zealand
25 4 September 1965 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 16–19  South Africa
26 18 September 1965 Eden Park, Auckland 20–3  New Zealand
27 25 July 1970 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria 17–6  South Africa 1970 New Zealand tour of South Africa
28 8 August 1970 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 8–9  New Zealand
29 29 August 1970 Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth 14–3  South Africa
30 12 September 1970 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 20–17  South Africa
31 24 July 1976 Kings Park Stadium, Durban 16–7  South Africa 1976 New Zealand tour of South Africa
32 14 August 1976 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein 9–15  New Zealand
33 4 September 1976 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 15–10  South Africa
34 18 September 1976 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 15–14  South Africa
35 15 August 1981 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 14–9  New Zealand 1981 South Africa tour of New Zealand and the United States
36 29 August 1981 Athletic Park, Wellington 12–24  South Africa
37 12 September 1981 Eden Park, Auckland 25–22  New Zealand
38 15 August 1992 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 24–27  New Zealand 1992 New Zealand tour of Australia and South Africa
39 9 July 1994 Carisbrook, Dunedin 22–14  New Zealand 1994 South Africa tour of New Zealand
40 23 July 1994 Athletic Park, Wellington 13–9  New Zealand
41 6 August 1994 Eden Park, Auckland 18–18 draw
42 24 June 1995 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 15–12  South Africa 1995 Rugby World Cup
43 20 July 1996 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 15–11  New Zealand 1996 Tri Nations Series
44 10 August 1996 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 18–29  New Zealand
45 17 August 1996 Kings Park Stadium, Durban 19–23  New Zealand 1996 New Zealand tour of South Africa
46 24 August 1996 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria 26–33  New Zealand
47 31 August 1996 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 32–22  South Africa
48 19 July 1997 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 32–35  New Zealand 1997 Tri Nations Series
49 9 August 1997 Eden Park, Auckland 55–35  New Zealand
50 25 July 1998 Athletic Park, Wellington 3–13  South Africa 1998 Tri Nations Series
51 15 August 1998 Kings Park Stadium, Durban 24–23  South Africa
52 10 July 1999 Carisbrook, Dunedin 28–0  New Zealand 1999 Tri Nations Series
53 7 August 1999 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria 18–34  New Zealand
54 4 November 1999 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) 22–18  South Africa 1999 Rugby World Cup
55 22 July 2000 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 25–12  New Zealand 2000 Tri Nations Series
56 19 August 2000 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 46–40  South Africa
57 21 July 2001 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 3–12  New Zealand 2001 Tri Nations Series
58 25 August 2001 Eden Park, Auckland 26–15  New Zealand
59 20 July 2002 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 41–20  New Zealand 2002 Tri Nations Series
60 10 August 2002 Kings Park Stadium, Durban 23–30  New Zealand
61 19 July 2003 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria 16–52  New Zealand 2003 Tri Nations Series
62 9 August 2003 Carisbrook, Dunedin 19–11  New Zealand
63 9 November 2003 Docklands Stadium, Melbourne (Australia) 29–9  New Zealand 2003 Rugby World Cup
64 24 July 2004 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 23–21  New Zealand 2004 Tri Nations Series
65 14 August 2004 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 40–26  South Africa
66 6 August 2005 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 22–16  South Africa 2005 Tri Nations Series
67 27 August 2005 Carisbrook, Dunedin 31–27  New Zealand
68 22 July 2006 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 35–17  New Zealand 2006 Tri Nations Series
69 26 August 2006 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria 26–45  New Zealand
70 2 September 2006 Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg 21–20  South Africa
71 23 June 2007 Kings Park Stadium, Durban 21–26  New Zealand 2007 Tri Nations Series
72 14 July 2007 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 33–6  New Zealand
73 5 July 2008 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 19–8  New Zealand 2008 Tri Nations Series
74 12 July 2008 Carisbrook, Dunedin 28–30  South Africa
75 16 August 2008 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 0–19  New Zealand
76 25 July 2009 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein 28–19  South Africa 2009 Tri Nations Series
77 1 August 2009 Kings Park Stadium, Durban 31–19  South Africa
78 12 September 2009 Waikato Stadium, Hamilton 29–32  South Africa
79 10 July 2010 Eden Park, Auckland 32–12  New Zealand 2010 Tri Nations Series
80 17 July 2010 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 31–17  New Zealand
81 21 August 2010 FNB Stadium, Johannesburg 22–29  New Zealand
82 30 July 2011 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 40–7  New Zealand 2011 Tri Nations Series
83 20 August 2011 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth 18–5  South Africa
84 15 September 2012 Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin 21–11  New Zealand 2012 Rugby Championship
85 6 October 2012 FNB Stadium, Johannesburg 16–32  New Zealand
86 14 September 2013 Eden Park, Auckland 29–15  New Zealand 2013 Rugby Championship
87 5 October 2013 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 27–38  New Zealand
88 13 September 2014 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 14–10  New Zealand 2014 Rugby Championship
89 4 October 2014 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 27–25  South Africa
90 25 July 2015 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 20–27  New Zealand 2015 Rugby Championship
91 24 October 2015 Twickenham Stadium, London (England) 18–20  New Zealand 2015 Rugby World Cup
92 17 September 2016 Rugby League Park, Christchurch 41–13  New Zealand 2016 Rugby Championship
93 8 October 2016 Kings Park Stadium, Durban 15–57  New Zealand
94 16 September 2017 North Harbour Stadium, Albany 57–0  New Zealand 2017 Rugby Championship
95 7 October 2017 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 24–25  New Zealand
96 15 September 2018 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 34–36  South Africa 2018 Rugby Championship
97 6 October 2018 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria 30–32  New Zealand
98 27 July 2019 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 16–16 draw 2019 Rugby Championship
99 21 September 2019 International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama (Japan) 23–13  New Zealand 2019 Rugby World Cup
100 25 September 2021 North Queensland Stadium, Townsville (Australia)[b] 19–17  New Zealand 2021 Rugby Championship
101 2 October 2021 Robina Stadium, Gold Coast (Australia)[b] 29–31  South Africa
102 6 August 2022 Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela 26–10  South Africa 2022 Rugby Championship
103 13 August 2022 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 23–35  New Zealand
104 15 July 2023 Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland 35–20  New Zealand 2023 Rugby Championship
105 25 August 2023 Twickenham Stadium, London (England) 7–35  South Africa 2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up match
106 28 October 2023 Stade de France, Saint-Denis (France) 11–12  South Africa 2023 Rugby World Cup
107 31 August 2024 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 31–27  South Africa 2024 Rugby Championship
108 7 September 2024 Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town 18–12  South Africa

List of series

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Played Won by
South Africa 		Won by
New Zealand 		Drawn
19 7 6 6
South Africa Home Played Won by
South Africa 		Won by
New Zealand 		Drawn
8 6 1 3
New Zealand Home Played Won by
South Africa 		Won by
New Zealand 		Drawn
6 1 5 2
Played Neutral venue Won by
South Africa 		Won by
New Zealand 		Drawn
1 0 0 1
Year New Zealand South Africa Series winner
1921 1 1 draw
1928 2 2 draw
1937 1 2  South Africa
1949 0 4  South Africa
1956 3 1  New Zealand
1960 1 2  South Africa
1965 3 1  New Zealand
1970 1 3  South Africa
1976 1 3  South Africa
1981 2 1  New Zealand
1994 2 0  New Zealand
1996 2 1  New Zealand
2006 1 1 draw
2008 1 1 draw
2009 0 2  South Africa
2010 2 0  New Zealand
2021 1 1 draw
2022 1 1 draw
2024 0 2  South Africa

Venues

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In New Zealand

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Stadium City Won by
New Zealand		 Won by
South Africa		 Draw
Eden Park Auckland 7 2 1
North Harbour Stadium 1 0 0
Overall 11 8 2 1
Lancaster Park Christchurch 6 2 0
Rugby League Park 1 0 0
Overall 9 7 2 0
Carisbrook Dunedin 7 1 0
Forsyth Barr Stadium 1 0 0
Overall 9 8 1 0
Waikato Stadium Hamilton 0 1 0
Overall 1 0 1 0
Athletic Park Wellington 3 3 1
Wellington Regional Stadium 6 1 1
Overall 15 9 4 2
Total 32 10 3

In South Africa

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Stadium City Won by
South Africa		 Won by
New Zealand		 Draw
Free State Stadium Bloemfontein 1 1 1
Overall 3 1 1 1
Newlands Cape Town 3 7 0
Cape Town Stadium 1 0 0
Overall 11 4 7 0
Kings Park Stadium Durban 3 4 0
Kingsmead 2 0 0
Overall 9 5 4 0
Ellis Park Johannesburg 10 6 0
FNB Stadium 0 2 0
Overall 18 10 8 0
Mbombela Stadium Mbombela 1 0 0
Overall 1 1 0 0
Boet Erasmus Stadium Port Elizabeth 2 0 0
Crusaders Ground 2 0 0
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium 1 0 0
Overall 5 5 0 0
Loftus Versfeld Stadium Pretoria 1 5 0
Overall 6 1 5 0
Royal Bafokeng Stadium Rustenburg 1 0 0
Overall 1 1 0 0
Total 28 25 1

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ For details to 2019:[3]
  2. ^ a b The 2021 Rugby Championship format was significantly altered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, many matches were hosted in Australia.

References

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  1. ^ "Rewind: '37 Springboks greatest team to leave NZ". ESPN.com. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Tri-Nations review – 16 years of the Springboks". super.rugby. SANZAAR. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Pick and go – Rugby Union Test & Super14 results and statistics".
  4. ^ "Match Centre: New Zealand – South Africa". stats.allblacks.com.
  5. ^ "New Zealand rugby results, 1965–2023" (PDF). rugbyhistory.co.nz. New Zealand Rugby History.
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