HISTORY MAKERS: ‘Springboks and All Blacks basically the same beast’ — Fitzpatrick

In the history of rugby, a highly competitive 1996 series between the Springboks and All Blacks remains one of the most significant rivalries. Gary Teichmann and Sean Fitzpatrick, former players, revisit this intense period, discussing the key factors that defined the series. One of the most iconic images from the series is Sean Fitzpatrick's triumphant pose on the turf at Loftus Versfeld, after his All Blacks secured a 33-26 victory in the second Test, giving New Zealand an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

The Boks needed a try and a conversion to draw the series, which they had lost in the first Test by 23-19. However, the All Blacks, with Fitzpatrick leading them, held firm against the Springboks' relentless attacks and prevented any scoring attempts in the final three minutes of the match. Upon winning the match, the All Blacks were too exhausted to celebrate, but they had become the first team to win a series in South Africa in 68 years.

This historic victory also took place under neutral referees, a change from previous tours that often saw biased officiating. The 1996 series saw both teams fielding strong teams, but the All Blacks, with their superior performance, outscored the Boks by 10 tries to nine, 78 points to 77. The key difference came down to goal-kicking, with Joel Stransky struggling in the first two Tests.

Former Bok captain Danie Craven had even expressed his frustration at always feeling cheated during South African tours, but neutral referees were expected to change the tide. The series was brutal, with the All Blacks' last encounter being part of the newly formed Tri-Nations competition, which aimed to forge ties between South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia. The first two Tests took place in Christchurch and Cape Town, with the All Blacks winning both matches.

Gary Teichmann, chosen as captain for the series, had only played six Tests and was trying to cement his place in the team. He became captain unexpectedly, taking over from Francois Pienaar, who had achieved great success in the 1995 World Cup. The inexperienced Teichmann, however, faced a tough challenge leading the team to a series defeat. The Boks had more injuries over the series, but the All Blacks remained closely matched and ultimately outperformed them.