Advertisement
The Springboks are in Auckland and seemingly in high spirits and excited about the challenge of facing the All Blacks in back-to-back Test matches. It is the clash at Eden Park, from the day it was announced, that has the staunchest of Boks and All Blacks fans excited, and it should have piqued the interest of any rugby fan.
The world’s four-time and back-to-back defending Rugby World Cup champions, who have one more title than the All Blacks, as any South African will be quick to remind you whether you watch the sport or not, will try to inflict a first defeat on the All Blacks at Eden Park since 1994. Very few, if any, sporting teams can boast such a long-standing undefeated home record. Certainly not at the elite level.
The All Blacks' extraordinary unbeaten record at Eden Park is a streak that runs for 50 consecutive matches, and includes 48 wins and 2 draws. There will be a lot of players in the match on Saturday, 6 September that were not born the last time New Zealand lost at that iron-clad fortress, which has been the venue at which the All Blacks' won two of their three World Cup titles.
The Eden Park Test is the first time the All Blacks have played South Africa at the venue since 2013. Last year, the home side extended their quite stunning winning run at the Auckland fortress with wins over England and Argentina.
The All Blacks last lost at Eden Park to France 23-20 on July 3, 1994, and even on the recent three-match tour to New Zealand, France did not have a chance to have a crack at the record.
It's been reserved by the Rugby Gods (well, and the administrators) for arguably their greatest rivals, South Africa, to attempt.
In a Rugby Championship in which records are tumbling down quicker than an All Black post seafood-eating circa 1995. South Africa lost their long-standing record of not losing to Australia at Ellis Park this Championship, while the Kiwis lost for the first time to Argentina in Argentina. It's easy for the rugby romantics to get caught up in the aura of this fixture.
There is a second Test to come, of course. The matchup at Sky Stadium in Wellington a week later on 13 September, a venue at which the All Blacks have struggled against South Africa in recent encounters. Not even the bravest of Bok fans would dare dream of backing up a home whitewash over the All Blacks in 2024 with a clean sweep away from home in 2025 - but would they settle for one win and claim the Eden Park scalp? I bet you most would.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said after the team arrived in Auckland, “We are excited to be here and we are looking forward to the challenge ahead.
It’s always tough playing here, but the group is in good spirits, and we are fully aware of the magnitude of the task ahead.”
The Boks arrived with a squad capable of winning, that's for sure. But they have had a hit-and-miss year in their Tests despite beating Italy twice, Georgia and Australia, with the Ellis Park loss to the Wallabies their sole blemish on their 2025 Test record. It is fair to say they are not firing on all cylinders.
Key players are back for the Test - Kolisi, Du Toit, Etzebeth and Le Roux - The total Test caps in the starting line-up is 939 – the fourth highest combined total in SA rugby history.
The South Africans do normally perform better as underdogs, and they have had the better of their rivals over recent years, with a current four-match win streak over New Zealand. This includes a record win and a RWC 2023 final triumph. A 5th straight win and the Eden Park scalp would be, well, probably too much for the average rugby fan to handle once the Bok fans get their fingers typing on social media.
There will be four centurions involved in the battle on Eden Park's turf - two for the hosts and two for the Springboks. For the All Blacks Ardie Savea will earn his 100th cap on what could be a historic occasion for more reasons than his epic milestone.
Personal milestones may not matter but how much extra motivation that may bring to a man who needs none will be interesting to see.
“We won our last four matches against them dating back to 2023, which marked only the second time in history that we defeated them four times in a row, and there is no doubt that will motivate both teams,” explained Erasmus.
The Boks are without their star wings, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe, who are both injured. But two-time World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe is there ready to pounce and punish, while Canan Moodie starts on the opposite wing.
Across their entire history, the Boks have only beaten New Zealand ten times in New Zealand. The All Blacks have, since 1921, lost only ten times at Eden Park. The closest the visitors have come is in 1994 when the sides played out an 18-18 draw.
It is such a long-standing record that it must fall at some point, and if it were the South Africans who broke the duck, it would add to their bragging rights they have recently accumulated over their rivals. How likely are the All Blacks going to allow that to happen without the staunchest of efforts?
I think we will see a game of epic brutality and passion, and if there is one collective group that can add another record to their resume, it is this Springbok side. Everest awaits, and they have the physical and mental tools to reach the summit, but a black storm awaits.
