History of rugby union matches between New Zealand and South Africa

New Zealand and South Africa 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 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, and not until 1996 did New Zealand win their first series on South African soil. 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 disfunction 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 8–6 since his appointment, including inflicting New Zealand's two worst ever defeats. They have faced each other 110 times with New Zealand winning 63 times, South Africa 43 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

Records

Note: Date shown in brackets indicates when the record was or last set.

Results

List of series

Year

New Zealand

South Africa

Series winner