From underdogs to overlords: How the Boks flipped the NZ rivalry

The Springboks’ hold over the All Blacks in the Rassie Erasmus-era is growing stronger with each passing season.

After Saturday’s runaway victory in Wellington, where the world champions crushed New Zealand 43-10, they completed their seventh win from the last 10 clashes against their fiercest rivals since 2021. This run includes regular Rugby Championship victories as well as crunch clashes such as the 2023 Rugby World Cup final.

For years, it was the Kiwis who dictated the rivalry, with South Africa snatching the odd win here and there. Now, however, the tables have turned in favour of the four-time world champions — and they look intent on extending their dominance.

With three Tests scheduled between the sides next season, anticipation is already building for what has been dubbed “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.”

The shift began in 2021

The turning point came in Townsville in October 2021. A week after suffering a narrow defeat in their 100th Test against the All Blacks, the Boks clawed their way to a gritty 31–29 victory during a difficult post-Covid-19 period for world rugby.

That result ended a frustrating run of losses and set the tone for the seasons that followed. The win was built on trademark defence, tactical kicking, and the relentless physicality that became South Africa’s blueprint.

Momentum grows in 2022

By 2022, the Springboks’ confidence had surged. Their emphatic 26-10 win in Mbombela showcased just how suffocating they could be, forcing New Zealand into errors and dominating collisions.

Although the All Blacks struck back a week later in Johannesburg, the message was clear — South Africa could now dictate terms, home or away.

World Cup supremacy in 2023

The Boks reinforced that dominance in their Twickenham warm-up before the World Cup, sweeping the All Blacks aside 35-7 for their then biggest-ever win over their rivals.

But the rivalry reached its defining chapter in Paris in October 2023. Facing the Kiwis in the Rugby World Cup final, South Africa produced a performance for the ages. Handré Pollard’s flawless kicking, Siya Kolisi’s leadership, and a defensive wall took them to a tense 12-11 triumph.

Beating New Zealand and lifting the Webb Ellis Cup for a second tournament in a row and a record fourth time signalled a new order in world rugby.

Consecutive wins in 2024

The Boks backed it up with consecutive home victories in 2024, winning 31-27 and 18-12. These results highlighted not only consistency but also squad depth, with Erasmus and his coaching team rotating effectively without sacrificing quality.

The All Blacks, by contrast, struggled to find answers to South Africa’s power and growing tactical variety. The double strike also laid the platform for the Boks’ Rugby Championship triumph that season.

The 2025 statement win

Nothing, however, compared to the demolition job in Wellington this past weekend. The 43-10 scoreline marked the largest Springbok win over New Zealand on Kiwi soil and a clear declaration of dominance. Six tries, watertight defence, and a bench that delivered maximum impact showed the gulf between the sides. The Boks are no longer just edging the All Blacks — they are dismantling them.

Seven wins from 10 Tests in four years have flipped rugby’s greatest rivalry on its head. For decades, New Zealand was the standard which all teams measured themselves against. Now, South Africa’s blend of physicality, tactical sharpness, and evolving backline flair under attack coach Tony Brown has given them the edge.

If the current trajectory continues, the All Blacks face a long road before reclaiming the upper hand, especially with three Tests looming in South Africa in 2026.