10 of the best Bok wins against All Blacks

Ahead of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry opener at Ellis Park, SA Rugby magazine relives 10 unforgettable Springbok victories over the All Blacks since readmission. amunra.qpon

Springboks 15 All Blacks 12 (Johannesburg, 1995)
Undoubtedly the finest sporting moment in the history of the country, the Springboks’ World Cup triumph will forever be etched into the folklore of this fixture. From low-flying planes to PJ Powers’ “World in Union”, and a sprinkling of Madiba Magic, this one had it all. Joost van der Westhuizen’s tackle on Jonah Lomu remains an enduring image of this match, as does the sight of Nelson Mandela sporting Francois Pienaar’s No 6 jersey.

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Springboks 24 All Blacks 23 (Durban, 1998)
In one of the greatest comebacks in Test history, the Springboks overturned a 23-5 deficit with 15 minutes to go, as they set course for their first-ever Tri-Nations title triumph. Tries from Joost van der Westhuizen and replacement Bobby Skinstad got the Springboks right back into the contest, before James Dalton rumbled over on the back of a driving maul during injury time to send the Kings Park faithful into a state of delirium.

Springboks 40 All Blacks 26 (Johannesburg, 2004)
The Springboks came into this one on the back of their longest losing streak ever to the All Blacks (eight matches). Confidence was building under coach Jake White and, after a narrow defeat in Christchurch, the Boks hit their straps to run in five tries in the come-from-behind win. Marius Joubert was the star, grabbing a hat-trick and laying on another for his Stormers teammate Jean de Villiers.

All Blacks 28 Springboks 30 (Dunedin, 2008)
The Springboks entered this Test without a win in Dunedin for 87 years and on the back of a 19-8 loss in Wellington just a week prior. The torrid run looked set to continue as they found themselves trailing 28-23 with captain Victor Matfield in the sin bin and just over seven minutes remaining on the clock. Enter Ricky Januarie, the oft-maligned Stormers and Springbok scrumhalf. Sniping around the edge of a ruck near the All Blacks 10m line, Januarie broke free before chipping over Leon Macdonald, regathering and going over for a magnificent solo effort. Frans Steyn added the extras as the Boks found pleasure at the ‘House of Pain’.

All Blacks 29 Springboks 32 (Hamilton, 2009)
Requiring just a point to claim their third Tri-Nations title, and first since 2004, the Springboks left nothing to chance as they raced into a 22-12 half-time lead. The margin was extended 10 minutes into the second half following a trademark intercept try from Jean de Villiers, before the All Blacks produced a stirring fightback. The Boks would prevail, though, to lift the trophy on enemy soil.

Springboks 27 All Blacks 25 (Johannesburg, 2014)
The Boks led 24-13 early in the second half, but faded badly as the All Blacks stepped up a gear. Two tries put the visitors ahead 25-24 and when Pat Lambie missed a drop-goal attempt, it looked as though there would be more Bok heartbreak. But the replacement flyhalf showed nerves of steel with a minute to go when he slotted a 55m penalty that raised the roof.

All Blacks 34 Springboks 36 (Wellington, 2018)
Coach Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks stunned the All Blacks at the Cake Tin for their first win in New Zealand since 2009. Trailing 12-0 early on, the Boks hit back with tries from Aphiwe Dyantyi, Willie le Roux and Malcolm Marx, before Handre Pollard’s penalty gave them a 24-17 half-time lead. Cheslin Kolbe’s intercept and Dyantyi’s second extended the advantage to 36-24, but Codie Taylor and Ardie Savea’s tries set up a tense finish. Beauden Barrett’s missed conversion proved costly, and desperate late defence from the Boks sealed an incredible victory.

Springboks 35 All Blacks 7 (London, 2023)
The Boks recorded their biggest-ever win against the All Blacks in this World Cup warm-up Test at Twickenham. A late injury to Willie le Roux forced Rassie Erasmus to unleash a 7-1 split between forwards and backs on the bench, and the Bomb Squad went nuclear. The Boks dominated the opening 15 minutes as Siya Kolisi and Kurt-Lee Arendse crossed while Sam Cane and Scott Barrett were sin-binned. Barrett’s red card before half time sealed the All Blacks’ fate. Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi and Kwagga Smith added tries in the second half, with Cam Roigard’s late score preventing New Zealand from being blanked.

Springboks 12 All Blacks 11 (Paris, 2023)
The Boks defended their World Cup crown with a titanic victory at the Stade de France. Handre Pollard kicked all of South Africa’s points, while Pieter-Steph du Toit made 27 tackles in a defensive masterclass. Captain Sam Cane’s 29th-minute red card left the All Blacks with 14 men, but Beauden Barrett’s second-half try set up a tense finish. The Boks endured setbacks with Bongi Mbonambi’s early injury, captain Siya Kolisi’s sin-bin and Cheslin Kolbe’s late yellow card, yet their famed resilience held firm as they celebrated a record fourth World Cup title.

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All Blacks 10 Springboks 43 (Wellington, 2025)
Winger Cheslin Kolbe scored twice as the Springboks produced a devastating second-half display to claim a record win against their greatest rivals. The Boks trailed 10-7 at half-time despite dominating territory, with Kolbe’s interception try their only reward. But the world champions took control after the break, with Kolbe crossing again before centre Damian Willemse, replacement flank Kwagga Smith, substitute lock RG Snyman and replacement midfielder André Esterhuizen added tries. The Boks’ biggest-ever victory against the All Blacks saw them retain the Freedom Cup and move back to the top of the World Rugby rankings.

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Nick Mallett believes Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus will lean heavily on the players who stayed behind while the rest of the squad travelled to Argentina for Saturday’s first Test against the All Blacks.

Erasmus is set to name his team at 2pm on Thursday, which bucks the trend of recent announcements where he preferred getting the team list out early in the week.

Mallett says Erasmus has experienced and tested players to call on for the Ellis Park showdown.

“Logic would say why fly people across to Argentina and fly them back if they’re going to play in the first Test? If I look at who he left behind, Damian Willemse fullback, he looks like a shoe-in, on the wing Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse, centres Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende. The flyhalf left behind was Manie Libbok and scrumhalf was Grant Williams. I mean, that’s a helluva backline isn’t it?” Mallett said on the Talking Boks podcast.

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The former Bok coach says there won’t be too many surprises in the forward pack either, although there may be space for a bolter in the loose trio.

“In the forwards, [Erasmus] had Ox Nché left behind, Malcolm Marx, Wilco Louw, Ruan Nortjé. I think Eben Etzebeth will come in at 4. If Siya Kolisi got through the Test, he would’ve started but it looks like he may be in trouble. And if you leave Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese behind, you’re going to play them, aren’t you?”

He also believes the contrasting attacking philosophies of the two rivals could make for a fascinating battle.

“Their preference is to pass as much as possible to create opportunities. Our preference is to strike early,” Mallett said. “Ours is a three-phase, kick-type attack. Theirs is a multi-phased attack.”

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That could make the battle for territory and possession particularly important, with Mallett warning that the Boks cannot afford to give the All Blacks the quick ball they crave.

“This whole tour is going to be: have they got the hand skills and evasive skills to beat us, and have we got the direct physicality but also the skills to offload out of contact?” he said.

“Have we got that ability to not give them quick ball? Because with quick ball, we’re in such trouble.”

Photo: @Springboks/X

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