If you’ve ever sat in a crowded pub in Johannesburg or a quiet living room in Christchurch during a Test match, you know the feeling. It’s a specific kind of silence. Then, a roar. The South Africa vs New Zealand rivalry isn't just a game; it's a hundred-year-old argument that refuses to be settled.
People love to talk about "global" sports, but rugby between these two is intimate. It’s personal. Honestly, it’s probably the most intense relationship in the sporting world. We are currently in 2026, and the heat hasn't died down one bit. In fact, with the newly announced "Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry" tour kicking off this August, the stakes have never felt higher.
The Weight of History
You can’t talk about these two without mentioning the history. It’s deep. It started back in 1921 in Dunedin. The All Blacks won that first one 13-5, but the Boks took the second. Since then, they’ve played 110 times.
New Zealand has the edge with 63 wins to South Africa’s 43. There have been 4 draws. But stats are kinda liars here. They don’t tell you about the 1995 World Cup Final. Nelson Mandela in that No. 6 jersey. Joel Stransky’s drop goal. That moment basically redefined a nation.
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Then you’ve got the dark years of isolation. For over a decade, the two best teams in the world couldn't play each other because of apartheid. When they finally met again at Ellis Park in 1992, the All Blacks won 27-24. It was a wake-up call for South African rugby. They had fallen behind.
What Really Happened in 2025?
Last year was a rollercoaster. Most people remember the 43-10 thrashing the Springboks handed the All Blacks in Wellington on September 13, 2025. It was New Zealand's worst-ever home defeat.
Cheslin Kolbe was basically a ghost that day—appearing out of nowhere to score twice. Manie Libbok, often criticized for his kicking, was nearly perfect, slotting four conversions and a penalty. The Boks' "Bomb Squad" came on and just demolished the All Black scrum in the final twenty minutes.
But don't think the Kiwis are down for the count. Earlier in 2025, during the Champions Trophy semi-final in cricket, New Zealand got their revenge. They chased down 304 to knock South Africa out. It’s always back and forth. You win on the grass, they win on the pitch.
The Women's Game is Exploding
If you aren't watching the women play, you're missing out. Seriously. The Black Ferns vs the Springbok Women is becoming a massive draw.
At the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England, the Black Ferns beat South Africa 46-17 in the quarter-finals. But the scoreline doesn't show how hard the South Africans hit in that first half. Tries from Babalwa Latsha and Aphiwe Ngwevu had the defending champions sweating. It took a massive second-half surge from Kaipo Olsen-Baker to put the game away.
Then there’s netball. The Silver Ferns and the SPAR Proteas just finished the Taini Jamison Trophy in September 2025. It was a 3-0 sweep for New Zealand, but the final game was a heartbreaker: 57-56. Martina Salmon scored in the final seconds to deny South Africa their second-ever win against the Kiwis.
The 2026 "Old School" Tour
We are heading back to the future. In August 2026, the All Blacks land in South Africa for a tour that looks like something from the 1970s. We’re talking about mid-week matches against franchises.
It starts on August 7th in Cape Town against the Stormers. Then Durban against the Sharks. Then Pretoria against the Bulls. The first Test is August 22nd at Ellis Park.
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| August 7 | Stormers vs New Zealand | Cape Town |
| August 11 | Sharks vs New Zealand | Durban |
| August 15 | Bulls vs New Zealand | Pretoria |
| August 22 | South Africa vs New Zealand (1st Test) | Johannesburg |
| August 25 | Lions vs New Zealand | Johannesburg |
| August 29 | South Africa vs New Zealand (2nd Test) | Cape Town |
The 2026 schedule is brutal. It’s designed to test depth. Modern rugby usually doesn't do this anymore. It’s all one-off Tests and short windows. But SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer and NZ Rugby’s Mark Robinson decided to bring back the "Grand Tour" feel.
The Cultural Divide
There’s a weird mutual respect here. New Zealanders admire the sheer physicality of the Boks. South Africans admire the skill and "total rugby" of the All Blacks.
When you see the Haka at Ellis Park, and 60,000 South Africans try to drown it out by singing Ole, Ole, Ole or Sister Bethina, it isn't disrespect. It’s a challenge. It’s the two heavyweights of the Southern Hemisphere acknowledging that nobody else matters as much as the person standing across from them.
Richie McCaw and Siya Kolisi are often compared, but they lead so differently. McCaw was the silent assassin, the master of the breakdown. Kolisi is the heart of a "Rainbow Nation," carrying the hopes of millions on his shoulders. Both have two World Cup titles. Both represent the absolute pinnacle of what South Africa vs New Zealand means.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of casual fans think New Zealand always dominates because of their win percentage. But look at the World Cup finals. They’ve met twice in the final (1995 and 2023). South Africa won both.
In the biggest games, the Boks find a way to strangle the life out of the All Black attack. They turn the game into a brawl in the mud. New Zealand wants a track meet; South Africa wants a wrestling match.
The rivalry is also surprisingly close in points. In 110 matches, the total points scored are roughly 2,269 for NZ and 1,850 for SA. That’s a gap, sure, but when you consider the Boks were out of the game for over a decade, the comeback has been legendary.
Practical Insights for the 2026 Tour
If you're planning to follow the South Africa vs New Zealand tour this year, keep these things in mind:
- Altitude is Real: The first Test is at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. That’s about 1,750 meters above sea level. The ball travels further, but the lungs burn faster. The All Blacks usually try to play fast early to tire the Boks, but the Boks use their bench (the Bomb Squad) to finish strong.
- The Mid-Week Trap: Watch the Tuesday games. The All Blacks will likely field "B-teams" against the Sharks and Lions. These are prime opportunities for provincial players to make a name for themselves by taking a scalp.
- Ticket Scams: With the hype for the 2026 tour being "Lions-tour level," secondary markets are flooded with fakes. Only buy through official SA Rugby or franchise portals.
The next few months are going to be loud. Whether it's the 111th meeting between the men or the rising stars in the women's ranks, the battle for Southern Hemisphere supremacy is far from over.
Your Next Steps
- Check the official SA Rugby website for the 2026 tour ticket ballot—it closes soon.
- Watch the replay of the 2025 Wellington Test (43-10) to see how the Springbok defensive system finally cracked the All Black code.
- Follow the SPAR Proteas' upcoming Quad Series to see if they can finally bridge that one-goal gap against the Silver Ferns.