I think it prudent to begin this by clearing up a misunderstanding of Springbok rugby evident to their loyal supporters. South Africa was not banned from playing rugby internationally because they were too dominant. There were racial and political reasons this occurred, but that is not the point I am hoping to resolve.

The rivalry between New Zealand and South Africa began in 1921, with the first official Test match played between the teams at the House of Pain, in Carisbrook, Dunedin.  The first two series involving these two mammoths of rugby were drawn, in New Zealand in the 1921 series over three matches, and then in the Republic in 1928.

At this stage both nations had established their international reputations. The Springboks had been the first nation to defeat the collective might of Mike Morrison’s British Lions in 1903 – and had already claimed their first touring Grand Slam in 1912/1913. The All Black “Originals” in 1905 had toured outside Australasia for the first time and won 34 of 35 games – then the “Invincibles” toured the Northern Hemisphere in 1924 and won all 32 of their games. The New Zealanders scored over 1,700 points on these combined tours!

‘South Africa has lost to seven of the current Test nations – while the All Blacks have only lost to five’


In 1937 the Springboks claimed their first series victory over the Men in Black, the first time the All Blacks had lost a home series. The next series, in 1949, was a 4-0 triumph for South Africa – the only time the All Blacks had been whitewashed in a Test series. In 1956 the Springboks toured New Zealand and lost 3-1, the Africans’ first series loss against any opponent. Before the apartheid controversies led to banishment of South Africa, New Zealand claimed two series against the Springboks’ three – both teams remaining almost unbeatable at home.

Up to this point, in the Springboks’ “amateur era, until 1981 – their last pre-apartheid tour – the Springboks had claimed 21 victories over the All Blacks, while the New Zealanders had 18 wins to their name. The two teams would not play each other again until 1992. In 1986 the New Zealand “Cavaliers” toured South Africa – but this was an unsanctioned team, and their results were not official, with the New Zealand players banned by the NZRU.

Since the Springboks’ re-entry to Test rugby, the All Blacks in this time had solidified their reputation as arguably the world’s dominant force. The Africans would lose their first three games of the professional era to the Men in Black, but saved their finest moment for their maiden World Cup triumph in 1995. In 1996, Sean Fitzpatrick led the All Blacks to a 3-1 series victory against the Springboks, the final frontier for the Kiwis and their first series win on African soil. In 1998 the Africans beat New Zealand 2-0 at home – the first time in 22 years the Springboks had claimed a series win over the All Blacks.

The current ledger of games between these two giants stands with 40 All Black victories to the Springboks’ 29. Since 1992, the All Blacks have dominated, winning 25 games to nine. Before the modern era the Springboks could convincingly claim status as the world’s premier team, but since then the All Blacks have been dominant – notwithstanding the New Zealanders modern era Achilles heel; an inability to win World Cups.

As current world champions and No.1 ranked team, South Africa’s claim to world superiority is robust. But the All Blacks assert a dominant recent record against them, including an astonishing eight-game winning streak over the South Africans from 2001 to 2004. The Springboks have not beaten the Blacks in New Zealand for over 10 years – while New Zealand has six victories in Africa in this time. On these facts, the argument is equally placed.

South Africa has lost to seven of the current Test nations – while the All Blacks have only lost to five. It is the records of these colossuses against Northern Hemisphere teams that provide an important disparity.

The British Lions have played for seven series triumphs, against 10 victories for the All Blacks. The Springboks have a 49 per cent winning percentage over the Lions, whereas the All Blacks boast a 76 per cent ratio, making them the dominant Southern power against the home nations’ collective might.

England, France and Australia would round out the global five superpowers of rugby, and it is interesting to measure their performances versus the two best teams in the world. Against the three above nations, the All Blacks have won 141 times, with 55 losses. The Springboks have recorded only 74 victories, and 46 losses.

The All Blacks have a dominant winning record against all world teams, being 55 per cent and 66 per cent against the Springboks and the Wallabies – but that jumps to a minimum 75 per cent against any other team in world rugby. The Springboks hold a winning history against all but New Zealand, but their winning record against the other three global powers is less than 60 per cent.

So to summarise, South Africa’s claim to global domination is succinct, but was better placed before their absence from the global stage. On the evidence of games played, modern history and statistics – the All Blacks are the most successful team in union history.

Of course, this might be disputed by nations who have triumphed in more than one World Cup...