All Blacks vs Springboks

Background

The rivalry has considerable history 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 touring due to the then South African government's policy of Apartheid. 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 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 (in 1956), and not until 1996 did New Zealand win their first series on South African soil (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, during a period of New Zealand dominance that also coincided with two periods of dysfunction in South African rugby under coaches Rudolf Straeuli and Allister Coetzee (2002–2003 and 2016–2018 respectively).

South Africa's resurgence since the appointment of Rassie Erasmus as coach in 2018 has resulted in the rivalry reigniting, as South Africa lead the series 8–6 (with one draw) since his appointment, including inflicting New Zealand's two worst ever defeats.