The Springboks beat the All Blacks 3-1 in a historic four-test series
After losing the opener, South Africa won three in a row, finishing with a 43-28 win in Baltimore.
Key points
- South Africa beat New Zealand 3-1 in a four-test series in August and September 2026, billed as “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry”.
- After losing 33-16 at Ellis Park on 22 August, the Springboks won 33-26 in Cape Town, 29-24 at FNB Stadium and 43-28 in Baltimore.
- The fourth test, at M&T Bank Stadium on 12 September, was the first time the two teams had played each other in the United States.
South Africa's Springboks beat New Zealand 3-1 in a four-test series in August and September 2026, promoted as "Rugby's Greatest Rivalry".
The tests
- 22 August, Ellis Park, Johannesburg: South Africa 16, New Zealand 33
- 29 August, Cape Town Stadium: South Africa 33, New Zealand 26
- 5 September, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg: South Africa 29, New Zealand 24
- 12 September, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore: South Africa 43, New Zealand 28
A new kind of tour
The series replaced the Rugby Championship for a season, bringing back the traditional long tour between the two great rivals. The final test in Baltimore was the first time the Springboks and All Blacks had played each other in the United States, part of an effort to grow rugby's audience there.
Why it matters
The Springboks are the reigning world champions, and beating the All Blacks over a long series underlined their status at the top of the game, a year before they defend their title at the 2027 Rugby World Cup. South Africa's young players are thriving too: the Junior Springboks won back-to-back world titles in July.
Sources
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