South Africa vs New Zealand: Inside Rugby's Greatest Rivalry
The South Africa vs New Zealand rugby rivalry is the fixture every rugby fan builds their calendar around, and in 2026 it's bigger than ever.
The Springboks and All Blacks have been trading blows for more than a century, with the 22 August meeting at Ellis Park becoming the 111th Test between the two nations. New Zealand won that opening clash 33–16, ending South Africa's 12-match winning streak and taking a 1–0 lead in the four-Test series.
The wider Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour is even bigger: New Zealand is touring South Africa for the first time in 30 years, before the fourth Test takes the rivalry to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on 12 September, the first Springboks-All Blacks Test ever played in the United States.
Below, you'll find the full head-to-head record, the biggest flashpoints in the rivalry's history, and where things stand as the 2026 series continues.
A Rivalry 105 Years and 111 Tests in the Making
You won't find another fixture in world rugby with this much history behind it. The All Blacks first toured South Africa in 1928, and the two nations have gone on to play 111 Tests since, more than any other pairing in the sport.
Politics, geography and pure sporting excellence have kept it at the top of the rugby calendar for generations: this is the rivalry that produced Nelson Mandela handing the World Cup to Francois Pienaar in 1995, the All Blacks' record 57-0 demolition in Albany in 2017, and South Africa's dramatic 12-11 World Cup final win in Paris in 2023.
Where the All-Time Head-to-Head Record Stands
Heading into the 2026 series, New Zealand led the all-time record with 63 wins to South Africa's 43, with four draws from their first 110 meetings, a winning percentage of 57% for the All Blacks. But that overall number tells only part of the story. Since 2018, the Springboks have actually won 8 of 13 meetings, and they claimed 7 of the last 10 clashes between the sides, including back-to-back Rugby Championship titles in 2024 and 2025.
Under Siya Kolisi, South Africa also won four consecutive Tests against New Zealand across 2023 and 2024, a run last matched between 1937 and 1949, before the All Blacks snapped it with a 24-17 win at Eden Park in September 2025.
Individually, former All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter remains the rivalry's all-time leading points scorer with 255 points from 21 Tests, while Christian Cullen's 10 tries make him the fixture's top try-scorer. If you're tracking form ahead of the next Test, you can follow live markets and squad news through the Sportsbet.io Rugby Union hub.
World Cup Finals: Where the Springboks Have the Edge
At Rugby World Cups specifically, the head-to-head flips in South Africa's favour. The Springboks lead their World Cup knockout record against New Zealand 4–2, including both of the tournament's two South Africa-New Zealand finals: the famous 15–12 extra-time victory on home soil in 1995 and the tense 12–11 win in Paris in 2023.
New Zealand's two victories came in other knockout rounds, beating South Africa 29–9 in the 2003 quarter-final and 20–18 in the 2015 semi-final.
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Tour 2026: A New Chapter
This year marks the first time the sides have contested a four-Test series in the professional era, and the tour has already delivered a shock.
New Zealand won the opening Test 33-16 at Ellis Park on 22 August, outscoring the Springboks five tries to one and ending South Africa's 12-match unbeaten run, despite the hosts leading 13-12 at half-time. It's a result that has swung this year's series firmly back into contention.
- First Test — 22 August, Ellis Park, Johannesburg: New Zealand won 33-16.
- Second Test — 29 August, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town.
- Third Test — 5 September, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg.
- Fourth Test — 12 September, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA: the first-ever Springboks vs All Blacks Test on neutral soil.
With New Zealand 1-0 up, South Africa now needs to win at least two of the remaining three Tests to retain bragging rights from the series. Given the Springboks' recent record on home soil — four wins from their last five meetings with New Zealand in South Africa, the second Test in Cape Town shapes up as a genuine series-defining match. You can follow every twist through live in-play rugby betting as each Test unfolds, or check international rugby odds for prices on the remaining fixtures.
What to Watch as the Series Continues
A few storylines worth following as the series moves to Cape Town and beyond:
- Springboks' discipline: two late yellow cards proved costly in the first Test — cutting down penalty concessions will be central to any series comeback.
- All Blacks' away form in South Africa: New Zealand's overall record touring South Africa sits at 33 wins, 10 losses and three draws, but they've struggled there in recent years.
- The Baltimore finale: a first-ever neutral-venue Test between the sides adds a genuinely unpredictable element to the series decider on 12 September.
- Player milestones: Will Jordan's double in the first Test extended his run as New Zealand's record try-scorer, with more history on the line for both squads across the remaining Tests.
Responsible Gambling: Follow the Series, Bet Within Your Limits
A four-Test series is a marathon, not a single result, and it's worth approaching your betting the same way. Set a deposit or loss limit before the series started rather than after a result you didn't expect, decide your stake per Test in advance, and treat the opening loss or win as one data point rather than a guarantee of how the rest of the series will go.
You must be 18 or the legal gambling age in your jurisdiction, whichever is higher, to bet on any of the markets mentioned in this article. If gambling ever stops feeling fun or in control, tools such as deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion are available through the Sportsbet.io Responsible Gambling hub, and free, confidential support is available around the clock from organisations such as BeGambleAware (begambleaware.org) and GamCare (gamcare.org.uk).
FAQs: South Africa vs New Zealand Rugby Rivalry
What is the all-time head-to-head record between South Africa and New Zealand?
Heading into the 2026 series, New Zealand led 63 wins to 43, with 4 draws, from their first 110 Tests. New Zealand won the 111th meeting 33-16 in August 2026, extending their overall lead.
Why is South Africa vs New Zealand called rugby's greatest rivalry?
The two nations have played more Tests against each other than any other pairing in rugby, spanning 105 years, two World Cup finals appearances between them, and some of the sport's most iconic individual moments, including the 1995 and 2023 World Cup finals.
What is Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Tour in 2026?
It's the first four-Test series between the Springboks and All Blacks in the professional era, played across South Africa before concluding with a historic neutral-venue Test in Baltimore, USA on 12 September 2026.
Who won the first Test of the 2026 series?
New Zealand won 33-16 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on 22 August 2026, scoring five tries to one and ending South Africa's 12-match unbeaten run.
Where can you find odds for the remaining Springboks vs All Blacks Tests?
Updated match odds and in-play prices for every remaining Test in the series are available on the Sportsbet.io Rugby Union hub.
Ready to Follow the Rest of the Series?
With the series level at 1-0 and three Tests still to play, this year's rivalry is far from settled. Head to the Sportsbet.io Rugby Union hub for the latest odds on the second Test in Cape Town, follow the action ball-by-ball with live in-play rugby betting, or check international rugby markets for prices across the rest of the tour.
