New Zealand (the All Blacks) and South Africa (the Springboks) have been playing rugby test matches 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, with both countries being among the sport's premier sides, having positive win records against every other nation, and holding 7 of the 10 rugby world cup trophies between them. New Zealand is the only nation to have won more games than it has lost against South Africa, and South Africa has the highest win percentage in the world against New Zealand. There is considerable history behind the rivalry, much of it off the field. The 1981 Springbok tour of New Zealand resulted in the largest mass civil unrest in New Zealand history as people protested over the Springboks coming to tour their country 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. The 1995 World Cup final between these two nations, with Springbok captain Francois Pienaar holding aloft the world cup trophy alongside former South African President, Nelson Mandela, is an iconic moment in the sport's history - and seen as a pivotal moment in South Africa's post-apartheid nation-building. It took New Zealand 35 years to win their first series against South Africa (in 1956), and not until 1996 did New Zealand win their first series on South African soil (South Africa had won a series in New Zealand in 1937). 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, however, New Zealand compiled a 31–10 record over South Africa. This was during a period in which New Zealand dominated world rugby, but also coincided with two periods of dysfunction in South African rugby under coaches Rudolf Straeuli and Allister Coetzee in 2002–2003 and 2016–2018 respectively. South Africa's resurgence since the appointment of Rassie Erasmus as coach of the Springboks in 2018 has resulted in the rivalry reigniting, as South Africa lead the series 11–7 (with one draw) since his appointment, including inflicting New Zealand's two worst ever defeats. They have faced each other 114 times with New Zealand winning 64 times, South Africa 46 times and with 4 draws between the two sides. As befits the intensity of the rivalry, the two sides are responsible for each other's largest defeats with New Zealand beating South Africa 57–0 in 2017 and South Africa beating New Zealand 43–10 in 2025.

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.

Summary Overall Details Played Won byNew Zealand Won bySouth Africa Drawn New Zealand points South Africa points In New Zealand 48 34 11 3 1,037 676 In South Africa 57 26 30 1 1,159 1,095 Neutral venue 9 4 5 0 184 200 Overall 114 64 46 4 2,380 1,971

Records Note: Date shown in brackets indicates when the record was or last set. RecordNew ZealandSouth AfricaLongest winning streak8 (21 July 2001 – 14 August 2004)6 (4 September 1937 – 14 July 1956)World Cup head-to-headFinal02Semifinal10Third place01Quarterfinals10Pool10Overall33Largest points forHome57 (16 September 2017)46 (19 August 2000)Away57 (8 October 2016)43 (13 September 2025)Largest winning marginHome57 (16 September 2017)17 (30 June 1928)Away42 (8 October 2016)33 (13 September 2025)Neutral20 (9 November 2003)28 (25 August 2023)Largest aggregate score90 (South Africa 35–55 New Zealand) (9 August 1997)

Results No. Date Venue Score Winner Competition 1 13 August 1921 Carisbrook, Dunedin 13–5 1921 South Africa tour of Australia and New Zealand 2 27 August 1921 Eden Park, Auckland 5–9 3 17 September 1921 Athletic Park, Wellington 0–0 draw 4 30 June 1928 Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban 17–0 1928 New Zealand tour of South Africa 5 21 July 1928 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 6–7 6 18 August 1928 Crusaders Ground, Port Elizabeth 11–6 7 1 September 1928 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 5–13 8 14 August 1937 Athletic Park, Wellington 13–7 1937 South Africa tour of Australia and New Zealand 9 4 September 1937 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 6–13 10 25 September 1937 Eden Park, Auckland 6–17 11 16 July 1949 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 15–11 1949 New Zealand tour of South Africa 12 13 August 1949 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 12–6 13 3 September 1949 Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban 9–3 14 17 September 1949 Crusaders Ground, Port Elizabeth 11–8 15 14 July 1956 Carisbrook, Dunedin 10–6 1956 South Africa tour of Australia and New Zealand 16 4 August 1956 Athletic Park, Wellington 3–8 17 18 August 1956 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 17–10 18 1 September 1956 Eden Park, Auckland 11–5 19 25 June 1960 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 13–0 1960 New Zealand tour of Australia and South Africa 20 23 July 1960 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 3–11 21 13 August 1960 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein 11–11 draw 22 27 August 1960 Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth 8–3 23 31 July 1965 Athletic Park, Wellington 6–3 1965 South Africa tour of Australia and New Zealand 24 21 August 1965 Carisbrook, Dunedin 13–0 25 4 September 1965 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 16–19 26 18 September 1965 Eden Park, Auckland 20–3 27 25 July 1970 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria 17–6 1970 New Zealand tour of South Africa 28 8 August 1970 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 8–9 29 29 August 1970 Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth 14–3 30 12 September 1970 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 20–17 31 24 July 1976 Kings Park Stadium, Durban 16–7 1976 New Zealand tour of South Africa 32 14 August 1976 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein 9–15 33 4 September 1976 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 15–10 34 18 September 1976 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 15–14 35 15 August 1981 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 14–9 1981 South Africa tour of New Zealand and the United States 36 29 August 1981 Athletic Park, Wellington12–24 37 12 September 1981 Eden Park, Auckland25–22 38 15 August 1992 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 24–27 1992 New Zealand tour of Australia and South Africa 39 9 July 1994 Carisbrook, Dunedin 22–14 1994 South Africa tour of New Zealand 40 23 July 1994 Athletic Park, Wellington 13–9 41 6 August 1994 Eden Park, Auckland 18–18 draw 42 24 June 1995 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 15–12 1995 Rugby World Cup 43 20 July 1996 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 15–11 1996 Tri Nations Series 44 10 August 1996 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 18–29 45 17 August 1996 Kings Park Stadium, Durban 19–23 1996 New Zealand tour of South Africa 46 24 August 1996 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria 26–33 47 31 August 1996 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 32–22 48 19 July 1997 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 32–35 1997 Tri Nations Series 49 9 August 1997 Eden Park, Auckland 55–35 50 25 July 1998 Athletic Park, Wellington 3–13 1998 Tri Nations Series 51 15 August 1998 Kings Park Stadium, Durban 24–23 52 10 July 1999 Carisbrook, Dunedin 28–0 1999 Tri Nations Series 53 7 August 1999 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria 18–34 54 4 November 1999 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff (Wales) 22–18 1999 Rugby World Cup 55 22 July 2000 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 25–12 2000 Tri Nations Series 56 19 August 2000 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 46–40 57 21 July 2001 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 3–12 2001 Tri Nations Series 58 25 August 2001 Eden Park, Auckland 26–15 59 20 July 2002 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 41–20 2002 Tri Nations Series 60 10 August 2002 Kings Park Stadium, Durban 23–30 61 19 July 2003 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria 16–52 2003 Tri Nations Series 62 9 August 2003 Carisbrook, Dunedin 19–11 63 9 November 2003 Docklands Stadium, Melbourne (Australia) 29–9 2003 Rugby World Cup 64 24 July 2004 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 23–21 2004 Tri Nations Series 65 14 August 2004 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 40–26 66 6 August 2005 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 22–16 2005 Tri Nations Series 67 27 August 2005 Carisbrook, Dunedin 31–27 68 22 July 2006 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 35–17 2006 Tri Nations Series 69 26 August 2006 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria 26–45 70 2 September 2006 Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg 21–20 71 23 June 2007 Kings Park Stadium, Durban 21–26 2007 Tri Nations Series 72 14 July 2007 Lancaster Park, Christchurch 33–6 73 5 July 2008 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 19–8 2008 Tri Nations Series 74 12 July 2008 Carisbrook, Dunedin 28–30 75 16 August 2008 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 0–19 76 25 July 2009 Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein 28–19 2009 Tri Nations Series 77 1 August 2009 Kings Park Stadium, Durban 31–19 78 12 September 2009 Waikato Stadium, Hamilton 29–32 79 10 July 2010 Eden Park, Auckland 32–12 2010 Tri Nations Series 80 17 July 2010 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 31–17 81 21 August 2010 FNB Stadium, Johannesburg 22–29 82 30 July 2011 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 40–7 2011 Tri Nations Series 83 20 August 2011 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth 18–5 84 15 September 2012 Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin 21–11 2012 Rugby Championship 85 6 October 2012 FNB Stadium, Johannesburg 16–32 86 14 September 2013 Eden Park, Auckland 29–15 2013 Rugby Championship 87 5 October 2013 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 27–38 88 13 September 2014 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 14–10 2014 Rugby Championship 89 4 October 2014 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 27–25 90 25 July 2015 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 20–27 2015 Rugby Championship 91 24 October 2015 Twickenham Stadium, London (England) 18–20 2015 Rugby World Cup 92 17 September 2016 Rugby League Park, Christchurch 41–13 2016 Rugby Championship 93 8 October 2016 Kings Park Stadium, Durban 15–57 94 16 September 2017 North Harbour Stadium, Albany 57–0 2017 Rugby Championship 95 7 October 2017 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 24–25 96 15 September 2018 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 34–36 2018 Rugby Championship 97 6 October 2018 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria 30–32 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 2019 Rugby World Cup 100 25 September 2021 North Queensland Stadium, Townsville (Australia) 19–17 2021 Rugby Championship 101 2 October 2021 Robina Stadium, Gold Coast (Australia) 29–31 102 6 August 2022 Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit 26–10 2022 Rugby Championship 103 13 August 2022 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 23–35 104 15 July 2023 Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland35–20 2023 Rugby Championship 105 25 August 2023 Twickenham Stadium, London (England) 7–35 2023 Rugby World Cup warm-up match 106 28 October 2023 Stade de France, Saint-Denis (France) 11–12 2023 Rugby World Cup 107 31 August 2024 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg31–27 2024 Rugby Championship 108 7 September 2024 Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town18–12 109 6 September 2025 Eden Park, Auckland24–17 2025 Rugby Championship 110 13 September 2025 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington 10–43 111 22 August 2026 Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg 16–33 2026 New Zealand tour of South Africa 112 29 August 2026 Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town 33–26 113 5 September 2026 FNB Stadium, Johannesburg 29–24 114 12 September 2026 M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore (US) 43–28

List of series Played Won bySouth Africa Won byNew Zealand Drawn 13 6 5 2 South Africa Home Played Won bySouth Africa Won byNew Zealand Drawn 7 5 1 1 New Zealand Home Played Won bySouth Africa Won byNew Zealand Drawn 6 1 4 1 Year New Zealand South Africa Series winner 1921 1 1 draw 1928 2 2 draw 1937 1 2 1949 0 4 1956 3 1 1960 1 2 1965 3 1 1970 1 3 1976 1 3 1981 2 1 1994 2 0 1996 2 1 202613 2030

Venues In New Zealand