The All Blacks vs Springboks: A Century‑Long Rivalry

In 2026 the traditional Rugby Championship is on hiatus, but fans are treated to a nostalgic, eight‑match tour that sees New Zealand’s All Blacks travel to South Africa for a packed itinerary, including four full‑blown Test matches against the Springboks, all broadcast live on Sky Sports. Promoted in both countries as the "Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour," the series is intended to commemorate more than a hundred years of competition between the two most successful rugby nations in history. The All Blacks have already dispatched the Stormers, the Sharks and the Bulls in convincing victories, and they now turn their attention to the Springboks for Tests scheduled on 22 August, 29 August, 5 September and 12 September.

Below is a quick rundown of the itinerary so far: - 7 August: Stormers 21‑38 New Zealand – Cape Town - 11 August: Sharks 0‑54 New Zealand – Durban - 15 August: Bulls 19‑50 New Zealand – Pretoria - 22 August: South Africa vs New Zealand (First Test) – Ellis Park, Johannesburg (04:10 BST) - 25 August: Lions vs New Zealand – Johannesburg (18:00 BST) - 29 August: South Africa vs New Zealand (Second Test) – Cape Town (04:10 BST) - 5 September: South Africa vs New Zealand (Third Test) – FNB Stadium, Johannesburg (04:10 BST) - 12 September: South Africa vs New Zealand (Fourth Test) – M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA (22:00 BST) The rivalry dates back to 13 August 1921, when the two sides first met at Carisbrook in Dunedin during South Africa’s three‑Test tour. New Zealand emerged victorious 13‑5. A week later the Springboks answered back with a 9‑5 win at Eden Park, and the third encounter in Wellington ended in a 0‑0 draw, leaving the inaugural series tied 1‑1. Since that opening chapter, the two nations have faced each other in roughly 110 Test matches, with the All Blacks winning 63, the Springboks 43 and four games ending in a draw.

Statistically, the balance of power has shifted back and forth. In South Africa, 54 Tests have been played: the hosts have prevailed 28 times, the All Blacks 25 times and one match was drawn.

In New Zealand, 48 Tests have taken place, with New Zealand winning 34, South Africa 11 and three draws. The rivalry has also been a fixture of Rugby World Cups. The Springboks have famously defeated the All Blacks in two finals – 1995 in Johannesburg and 2023 in France – and secured a third‑place win in 1999. Conversely, New Zealand have bested South Africa in the 2015 semi‑final, the 2003 quarter‑final and the 2023 pool stage.

After the 1921 series, the two nations met again in 1927 when New Zealand toured South Africa. That series finished level at 2‑2, with each side taking two wins.

South Africa then enjoyed a period of dominance, winning the 1937 tour in New Zealand 2‑1 and sweeping a home series in 1949 4‑0. New Zealand turned the tables in 1956, winning a home series 3‑1, but the Boks reclaimed a 2‑1 series win on home soil in 1960. The political landscape dramatically affected the rivalry from 1948 onward, when South Africa instituted apartheid. The regime’s policy of racial segregation meant that Māori players were barred from touring, prompting New Zealand to exclude several of its best players from tours to South Africa.

Public protests erupted during the 1960 tour, and by the mid‑1960s South Africa faced growing isolation from the international sporting community, culminating in exclusion from the Olympic Games and other global competitions. Rugby proved one of the last sports to act decisively. In 1965 South Africa toured New Zealand, with the All Blacks winning three of four Tests. The anti‑tour movement Halt All Racist Tours was founded in 1969, and the 1970 All Blacks tour of South Africa ended in a 3‑1 series loss for New Zealand.

A planned 1973 tour to New Zealand was cancelled amid mounting pressure, yet the two sides still met in 1976 (South Africa winning 3‑1 at home) and in the infamous 1981 tour of New Zealand, which New Zealand won 2‑1 but was marred by massive protests, pitch invasions, and even flour‑bomb attacks on the field. The 1985 series was called off in line with the broader sporting boycott of South Africa. The Springboks missed the first two Rugby World Cups (1987, 1991), and a rebel New Zealand Cavaliers side toured South Africa in 1986, resulting in bans for several Kiwi players. With the dismantling of apartheid in the early 1990s, South Africa re‑entered international rugby.

Their first post‑boycott Test came in 1992, a narrow 27‑24 win over New Zealand at Ellis Park. Nelson Mandela, elected president in 1994, famously urged all South Africans to support the Springboks, turning the team into a symbol of national unity. The 1995 Rugby World Cup, hosted by South Africa, produced perhaps the most iconic moment in the rivalry.

The Springboks defeated the heavily favoured All Blacks 15‑12 after extra time in a match that many attribute to a mysterious bout of food‑borne illness that struck a large portion of the New Zealand squad. Conspiracy theories about a missing waitress named "Suzie" and alleged poisoning have persisted, though no concrete evidence has ever emerged. A year later, in August 1996, New Zealand toured South Africa seeking revenge. After winning the inaugural Tri‑Nations that year, the All Blacks took a 23‑19 Test win in Durban and a 33‑26 victory in Pretoria, sealing the series with a game to spare.

Although the Boks claimed the third Test, New Zealand went on to dominate the next 17 encounters, remaining unbeaten against South Africa from 2001 to July 2004 and collecting Tri‑Nations titles in 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2003. South Africa broke the New Zealand stranglehold with Tri‑Nations triumphs in 2004 and 2009, but the All Blacks continued to amass titles, winning four consecutive Tri‑Nations crowns from 2005‑2008, again in 2010, and three‑peat runs from 2011‑2013 and 2016‑2018.

They also secured Rugby World Cup victories in 2011 and 2015, the latter team often hailed as the greatest All Blacks side ever assembled. The rivalry’s modern chapter saw South Africa suffer a humiliating 57‑0 loss to New Zealand in Albany in September 2017, followed by heavy defeats to Ireland and Wales.

The poor run prompted the appointment of Rassie Erasmus as Springbok head coach. Erasmus revitalised the squad, culminating in a historic 36‑34 win in Wellington in September 2018 – the Springboks’ first victory on New Zealand soil since 2009. The momentum carried through to the 2019 World Cup, where South Africa lifted the Webb Ellis Trophy for the third time, defeating England in the final after having eliminated the All Blacks in the semi‑finals. Since that triumph, the Springboks have held a slight edge in head‑to‑head Tests, winning seven of the last eleven meetings, and have claimed the Rugby Championship in both 2024 and 2025.

Their 2023 World Cup final win over a depleted, 14‑man All Blacks side added another trophy to the cabinet, though many observers felt the result was aided by New Zealand’s injury woes. Looking ahead, the Springboks appear to possess greater depth and a solidified core, while the All Blacks are in a rebuilding phase under head coach Dave Rennie after the dismissal of Scott Robertson. Rennie has described the upcoming four‑Test series as "the toughest tour in rugby," acknowledging the intensity of playing eight matches in six weeks and the opportunity to test themselves against the current world benchmark.

The 2026 tour therefore offers more than just a series of games; it is a living chronicle of a rivalry that has survived wars, political upheaval, boycotts and countless dramatic moments on the field. Whether you are a casual viewer or a lifelong follower, the All Blacks vs Springboks saga provides a compelling narrative of competition, culture, and the unifying power of sport. Fans can catch every minute of the eight‑match tour live on Sky Sports, with streaming available through NOW. The schedule repeats the key fixtures for easy reference: - 7 August: Stormers 21‑38 New Zealand (Cape Town) - 11 August: Sharks 0‑54 New Zealand (Durban) - 15 August: Bulls 19‑50 New Zealand (Pretoria) - 22 August: South Africa vs New Zealand – First Test (Ellis Park, Johannesburg) - 25 August: Lions vs New Zealand (Johannesburg) - 29 August: South Africa vs New Zealand – Second Test (Cape Town) - 5 September: South Africa vs New Zealand – Third Test (FNB Stadium, Johannesburg) - 12 September: South Africa vs New Zealand – Fourth Test (M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA) The tour promises to add new chapters to a rivalry that has already produced more than a century of unforgettable rugby moments.