RSAvNZ: It's Never Been Easy For The Boks

The Springboks have won 37% of their 103 previous men’s Tests against New Zealand, which by far the best win rate of any team. In fact, they are the only team to have won even one third of their games against the All Blacks, with Australia (26%) the second most successful team against New Zealand.

However, whenever the Springboks have beaten the All Blacks it has always seemed to have taken a herculean effort. On the other hand, the All Blacks have been prone to blow the Boks out of the water, regardless of where they play. In the past we have seen the All Blacks dismantle many teams, putting up high scores against the best in the world, and the following results below are but a testament the mighty Springboks are not exempt.

New Zealand 57-0 South Africa, North Harbour Stadium, Albany, 16 September 2017

A massacre that still lives fresh in the minds of every South African. What made this one rather painful was that the Boks were slowly starting to find their feet under Allister Coetzee. Coming of the back of a 3-0 series win over France and two successful outings against Argentina both home and away, the following draw against Australia in Perth did not ring a lot of alarm bells. What they weren't quite prepped for was an All Black onslaught filled with 'angst'. Tries from Nehe Milner-Skudder, Reiko Ioane, Scott Barrett and Brodie Retallick saw the All Blacks lead 31-0 at the break.

Things didn't go better for the outclassed Boks, with the game being summed up by Anton Lienert-Brown bouncing Handre Pollard before offloading to Lima Sopoaga for the game's seventh try.

South Africa 15-57 New Zealand, Kings Park, Durban, 8 October 2016

From a coaching and playing perspective, the Boks were horribly bent out of shape. With a lack of options at 10, they fell back on Morne Steyn, whose boot was the only saving grace, a player who’s kicking was never in dispute. However, the All Blacks scored more tries (nine) than the Boks nailed penalties.

Five of those tries came in what was a legendary last 20 minutes where the All Blacks toyed with the Boks to a point where they looked like they were playing shadow rugby.

If Beauden Barrett and Lima Sopoaga were accurate from the kicking tee, things could have been messier. 

South Africa 16-52 New Zealand, Loftus Versfeld, Tshwane, 19 July 2003

Rudolf Straueli had three nadirs as Bok coach. There was the 53-3 Twickenham thrashing of December 2002, there was Kamp Staaldraad and then there was this.

To be fair, the Springboks were proper bottom drawer at this time and they were ripe for the picking by the All Blacks.

Right in the heartland of South African rugby, a ground where the All Blacks have experienced great success, they drove in the dagger with a cold-blooded performance on a sunny Saturday.

They led 22-9 at half-time and only Ashwin Willemse's try spared some of the blushes in what was right royal thrashing.