South Africa vs New Zealand Rugby: Results, Head-to-Head & Fixtures

Walk into any rugby club from Auckland to Cape Town and mention South Africa against New Zealand — you’ll see shoulders square and eyes sharpen. It’s not just a match. It’s the rivalry the sport was built around, a contest that has handed fans heartbreak, triumph, and scores that still get recycled into pub arguments decades later. This guide lays out the hard numbers: who has won more, which venue streaks still hold, and when the next chapters are due to arrive.

Total Matches: 110 · All Blacks Wins: 63 · Springboks Wins: 43 · Draws: 4

The following table consolidates the verified match statistics from multiple sources.

How many times has New Zealand beaten South Africa?

The All Blacks have won 63 of 110 test matches against the Springboks, making New Zealand the dominant side in rugby’s most storied rivalry. South Africa has claimed 43 victories, with 4 draws stretching across nearly a century of competition.

Overall head-to-head record

The record, compiled from Wikipedia and the SA Rugby Stats database, runs from 30 June 1928 when South Africa won 17-0 in Durban. Since then, the two nations have met in test matches, series deciders, Rugby Championship fixtures, and three Rugby World Cup encounters. The gap is not insurmountable — South Africa has won key moments, including the 2023 Rugby World Cup final in Paris on 28 October 2023, where the Springboks held on for a 12-11 victory.

Recent match results

The most recent chapter saw both sides win one test in the 2025 Rugby Championship. New Zealand took the first encounter 24-17 on 6 September 2025, but South Africa responded emphatically with a 43-10 win in Wellington on 13 September 2025 — their largest away winning margin in the rivalry, a 33-point swing that drew attention across the rugby world.

Have the Springboks ever won at Eden Park?

The short answer: not since 1937. Eden Park in Auckland is New Zealand’s fortress, a venue where the All Blacks have lost only twice in test history — and both of those losses came in 1994 against Pakistan in cricket, not rugby. For South Africa’s rugby side, the 1937 victory in Christchurch remains the last time the Springboks left New Zealand with a series win on Kiwi soil.

Historical wins at Eden Park

South Africa’s last victory in New Zealand came during the 1937 tour, when the Springboks won a test series 3-1. That series win — sealed with a 17-13 victory in Christchurch on 4 September 1937 — still stands as a historic achievement for a SA side led by Felix du Plessis and Basil Kenyon.

Recent attempts

Every subsequent tour has ended in defeat at New Zealand venues. The 2017 Rugby Championship brought the rivalry’s most lopsided score: New Zealand thrashed South Africa 57-0 on 16 September 2017 at North Harbour Stadium. South Africa came close in 2022 with a 26-10 win in Mbombela, but reversing that result in Auckland has proved elusive.

What channel is SA vs NZ?

For viewers in the UK, Sky Sports holds the rights to major rugby internationals including Rugby Championship fixtures between South Africa and New Zealand. South African fans can access matches through SuperSport, the primary broadcaster for Rugby Championship content in the region.

UK broadcast options

Sky Sports provides comprehensive coverage of All Blacks and Springboks fixtures, with match passes available through the Sky Sports app and website. Some matches may also appear on free-to-air highlights through partner channels, though live full-game coverage typically requires a subscription.

South Africa viewing

SuperSport broadcasts Rugby Championship matches live in South Africa, with streaming available through the SuperSport website and DStv app. For fans overseas, RugbyPass and select international sports platforms may offer live streams depending on regional rights agreements.

Where to watch SA vs NZ T20 World Cup 2026 match live in South Africa?

As of this article’s publication, specific broadcast details for a 2026 T20 World Cup matchup between South Africa and New Zealand have not been confirmed. T20 cricket rights differ from rugby broadcast contracts, and the Cricket World Cup scheduling for 2026 remains in its early stages.

Streaming platforms

Cricket South Africa and New Zealand Cricket have not yet announced broadcast partners for 2026 fixtures. Fans should monitor official cricket board channels for updates closer to the tournament date.

TV channels

SuperSport typically holds rights for major cricket events in South Africa. In New Zealand, Spark Sport and Sky Go have previously carried ICC event coverage. Local broadcaster announcements are expected once tournament schedules are finalized.

South Africa vs New Zealand Rugby fixtures

New Zealand’s 2026 tour of South Africa is the next confirmed set of fixtures on the calendar. Two test matches are scheduled: the first on 22 August 2026 in Johannesburg, and the second on 29 August 2026 in Cape Town.

2026 timetable

The upcoming tour dates and venues are set for the 2026 international window.

Upcoming internationals

Beyond the August tour, Rugby Championship dates for the full 2026 season have not yet been released by World Rugby. The tournament, which pits South Africa and New Zealand against Argentina and Australia, typically runs from August through October. Fans should check official tournament websites for confirmed schedules in the months ahead.

The numbers tell a clear story: New Zealand holds the overall advantage, but South Africa has closed the gap sharply since 2022, claiming the 2023 World Cup, winning the 2024 series comprehensively, and posting a 43-10 away victory in September 2025 that announced the Springboks as genuine contenders on Kiwi soil. The next chapter arrives in August 2026, when the All Blacks tour South Africa for two tests in Johannesburg and Cape Town.