# 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 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. 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.

## Summary
### Overall

| Details | 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

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

| 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 | 1921 South Africa tour of Australia and New Zealand |
| 3 | 17 September 1921 | Athletic Park, Wellington | 0–0 | draw | 1921 South Africa tour of Australia and New Zealand |
| 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 | 1928 New Zealand tour of South Africa |
| 6 | 18 August 1928 | Crusaders Ground, Port Elizabeth | 11–6 | South Africa | 1928 New Zealand tour of South Africa |
| 7 | 1 September 1928 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town | 5–13 | New Zealand | 1928 New Zealand tour of South Africa |
| 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 | 1937 South Africa tour of Australia and New Zealand |
| 10 | 25 September 1937 | Eden Park, Auckland | 6–17 | South Africa | 1937 South Africa tour of Australia and New Zealand |
| 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 | 1949 New Zealand tour of South Africa |
| 13 | 3 September 1949 | Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban | 9–3 | South Africa | 1949 New Zealand tour of South Africa |
| 14 | 17 September 1949 | Crusaders Ground, Port Elizabeth | 11–8 | South Africa | 1949 New Zealand tour of 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 | 1956 South Africa tour of Australia and New Zealand |
| 17 | 18 August 1956 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch | 17–10 | New Zealand | 1956 South Africa tour of Australia and New Zealand |
| 18 | 1 September 1956 | Eden Park, Auckland | 11–5 | New Zealand | 1956 South Africa tour of Australia and 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 | 1960 New Zealand tour of Australia and South Africa |
| 21 | 13 August 1960 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein | 11–11 | draw | 1960 New Zealand tour of Australia and South Africa |
| 22 | 27 August 1960 | Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 8–3 | South Africa | 1960 New Zealand tour of Australia and 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 | 1965 South Africa tour of Australia and New Zealand |
| 25 | 4 September 1965 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch | 16–19 | South Africa | 1965 South Africa tour of Australia and New Zealand |
| 26 | 18 September 1965 | Eden Park, Auckland | 20–3 | New Zealand | 1965 South Africa tour of Australia and 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 | 1970 New Zealand tour of South Africa |
| 29 | 29 August 1970 | Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 14–3 | South Africa | 1970 New Zealand tour of South Africa |
| 30 | 12 September 1970 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg | 20–17 | South Africa | 1970 New Zealand tour of 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 | 1976 New Zealand tour of South Africa |
| 33 | 4 September 1976 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town | 15–10 | South Africa | 1976 New Zealand tour of South Africa |
| 34 | 18 September 1976 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg | 15–14 | South Africa | 1976 New Zealand tour of 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 | 1981 South Africa tour of New Zealand and the United States |
| 37 | 12 September 1981 | Eden Park, Auckland | 25–22 | New Zealand | 1981 South Africa tour of New Zealand and the United States |
| 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 | 1994 South Africa tour of New Zealand |
| 41 | 6 August 1994 | Eden Park, Auckland | 18–18 | draw | 1994 South Africa tour of New Zealand |
| 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 | 1996 Tri Nations Series |
| 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 | 1996 New Zealand tour of South Africa |
| 47 | 31 August 1996 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg | 32–22 | South Africa | 1996 New Zealand tour of 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 | 1997 Tri Nations Series |
| 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 | 1998 Tri Nations Series |
| 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 | 1999 Tri Nations Series |
| 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 | 2000 Tri Nations Series |
| 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 | 2001 Tri Nations Series |
| 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 | 2002 Tri Nations Series |
| 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 | 2003 Tri Nations Series |
| 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 | 2004 Tri Nations Series |
| 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 | 2005 Tri Nations Series |
| 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 | 2006 Tri Nations Series |
| 70 | 2 September 2006 | Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg | 21–20 | South Africa | 2006 Tri Nations Series |
| 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 | 2007 Tri Nations Series |
| 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 | 2008 Tri Nations Series |
| 75 | 16 August 2008 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town | 0–19 | New Zealand | 2008 Tri Nations Series |
| 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 | 2009 Tri Nations Series |
| 78 | 12 September 2009 | Waikato Stadium, Hamilton | 29–32 | South Africa | 2009 Tri Nations Series |
| 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 | 2010 Tri Nations Series |
| 81 | 21 August 2010 | FNB Stadium, Johannesburg | 22–29 | New Zealand | 2010 Tri Nations Series |
| 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 | 2011 Tri Nations Series |
| 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 | 2012 Rugby Championship |
| 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 | 2013 Rugby Championship |
| 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 | 2014 Rugby Championship |
| 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 | 2016 Rugby Championship |
| 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 | 2017 Rugby Championship |
| 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 | 2018 Rugby Championship |
| 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) | 19–17 | New Zealand | 2021 Rugby Championship |
| 101 | 2 October 2021 | Robina Stadium, Gold Coast (Australia) | 29–31 | South Africa | 2021 Rugby Championship |
| 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 | 2022 Rugby Championship |
| 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 | 2024 Rugby Championship |
| 109 | 6 September 2025 | Eden Park, Auckland | TBD | TBD | 2025 Rugby Championship |
| 110 | 13 September 2025 | Sky Stadium, Wellington | TBD | TBD | 2025 Rugby Championship |

## List of series

| 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
### In New Zealand

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

### In South Africa

| 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 | Cape Town | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Overall | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| Kings Park Stadium | Durban | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Kingsmead | Durban | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Overall | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Ellis Park | Johannesburg | 10 | 6 | 0 |
| FNB Stadium | Johannesburg | 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 | Port Elizabeth | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium | Port Elizabeth | 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 | Total | 28 | 25 | 1 |