One week to go: Springboks v All Blacks is a rivalry for the ages – All the stats

The scheduled clash between South Africa's Springboks and New Zealand's All Blacks in April marks a highly anticipated fixture in rugby history, with a rivalry that traces back to 1921. To date, the two teams have faced each other 110 times, with New Zealand edging out South Africa in wins (63 compared to 43), with 4 matches ending in a draw.

In South Africa, where the All Blacks are set to embark on their first full tour in 30 years, the All Blacks have had the edge in 28 encounters, whereas South Africa has claimed 25 victories, and a single match ended in a draw. However, the balance has shifted recently in South Africa's favor over the past three years. The Springboks have claimed seven wins in their last ten meetings, securing their first back-to-back Rugby Championship titles.

In home games specifically, the Springboks have secured victories in four of their last five clashes against the All Blacks. Under the leadership of captain Siya Kolisi and coaches Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus, the Springboks have won four consecutive Tests against the All Blacks in the 2023/24 season, a feat last achieved between 1937 and 1949.

This sequence ended when the All Blacks won 24-17 at Eden Park in September of the previous year, extending their 51-match unbeaten run at the ground since 1994. Immediately following this win, South Africa responded with a crushing 43-10 defeat of New Zealand in Wellington, which remains the All Blacks' heaviest defeat in history, surpassing the Springboks' previous record of 35-7 set at Twickenham during a 2023 World Cup warm-up.

Only two other results constitute New Zealand's five worst defeats ever, with South Africa responsible for three of them. To rectify their declining record in South Africa, the All Blacks view their 33 wins, 10 defeats, and three draws at home as insignificant. Notable players expected to make an impact include Dan Carter, Handré Pollard, and Bryan Habana for New Zealand, and Christian Cullen, Bryan Habana, and Cheslin Kolbe for South Africa. The first Test of the series is set to kick off at Ellis Park on Saturday.