The rivalry that runs deep
This weekend, the All Blacks and Springboks play each other for the 111th time. It’s the third of four this season, but the last on South African soil as the Greatest Rivalry series moves on to Baltimore next weekend.
It’s fair to say that tension is high between the two camps, however Dave Rennie was quick to remind everyone today of the mutual respect that exists.
"Both sides are trying to rip each others’ heads off for 80 minutes and when they connect, have a few beers, there's a lot of goodwill there,” he said at the team naming press conference.
That’s been the case for the entire history of this rivalry, even with its turbulent off field events that saw the Springboks banned from playing for over a decade. Looking back across that time, there’s been many memorable match ups that are great rivalries in themselves.
Kevin Skinner v Chris Koch and Jaap Bekker
It was a simpler time back in 1956. The Springbok tour to New Zealand that year was treated like a World Cup, grounds were muddy and sprigs were long. Also, the way the All Blacks decided to deal with a dominant Springbok scrum was to bring former heavyweight boxing champion Kevin Skinner out of retirement to ‘sort out’ props Chris Koch and Jaap Bekker. Best to use your imagination as to how that was achieved.
WATCH: All Blacks captain Ardie Savea sets the scene in Soweto
Murray Mexted v Wynand Claasen
These two only met in two tests in 1981, but it was part of the most dramatic series ever played in test rugby. Claasen captained the Springboks in the infamous Flour Bomb Test at Eden Park, with Mexted in arguably career best form at the back of the All Black scrum. 45 years later, the two have been reunited with Mexted visiting Claasen after a spur of the moment decision to attend the third test in Soweto this weekend.
Colin Meads v Frik du Preez
It’s uncanny how much alike these two great figures of New Zealand and South African rugby are. Both larger than life figures, the two locks dominated their respective sides during the 1960s, meeting each other in the 1965 and 1970 tours. While Meads sadly passed away in 2017, du Preez is still going strong at age 90 and attended the recent All Blacks v Bulls match at his beloved Loftus Versfeld.
WATCH: Go behind the scenes with the All Blacks in South Africa with Behind the Fern
Justin Marshall v Joost van der Westhuizen
Two of the great halfbacks of the modern era, van der Westhuizen can claim a World Cup win in 1995 while Marshall can boast a series win a year later. Both set records for being the highest capped players in their positions, however tragically van der Westhuizen was diagnosed with MND and passed away in 2017.
Ma’a Nonu v Jean de Villiers
De Villiers captained the Springboks and put his body on the line countless times during his 109 test career. Plenty of those were against Nonu, who is incredibly still playing at age 43. The two came up against each other in two excellent tests in 2013-13, with de Villiers scoring at Ellis Park in one of them.
WATCH: Find out from Leroy Carter what it is like to mark Cheslin Kolbe
Brodie Retallick v Eben Etzebeth
A famous image of these two warriors facing off against each other sums up the rivalry between the two countries, with the spirit of Meads and du Preez embodied in fierce emotion. Etzebeth nows stands as the most capped Springbok ever and is showing no signs of slowing down, while Retallick retired from test rugby in 2023 having won a World Cup and having been part of the highest ever All Black win over the Springboks.
Julian Savea v Bryan Habana
For a while there, it looked like Savea was on his way to smashing the All Black try scoring record. On the other side for much of his glittering career was Habana, who actually did set the record for the Springboks with 67. Both wings won World Cups and left indelible marks on the eras they played through pace and power.
