Springboks vs All Blacks: Who has the edge?

The Springboks and All Blacks will meet in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final. Let’s take a closer look at their historical rivalry.

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NELSON MANDELA AND THE MOST MAGICAL MADIBA MOMENT AT RUGBY WORLD CUP 1995

The 1995 final will never be forgotten. Joel Stransky’s drop-kick settled the contest in extra time, producing a 15-12 scoreline to be forever etched in the hearts and minds of fanatical Bok supporters and indeed all South Africans. As skipper Francois Pienaar said with the William Webb Ellis trophy in his hands “We didn’t have 60,000 South Africans, we had 43 million South Africans.” Images of Pienaar alongside then-president Nelson Mandela still adorn walls across the land.

The All Blacks, for the record, have actually won each of the last three RWC meetings between the sides. A 2019 pool stage win ended up proving academic with the Boks shrugging it off to win the title in Japan. NZ couldn’t go all the way in 2003 despite beating the Boks in the quarter-finals, with England winning down under. The All Blacks did go all the way to glory in 2015 though after vanquishing South Africa in the semi-finals at Twickenham and then the Wallabies in the final.

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ALL-TIME H2H RECORD

The sides have met 104 times in their storied respective pasts, with the All Blacks registering 62 wins, the Springboks 38, and four draws. What will transpire next weekend in rugby’s biggest game?

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Meanwhile, hit up James Freemantle for more insights, analysis and love for the beautiful game of football.

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