South Africa v New Zealand: Stats, Facts, Line Ups
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South Africa and New Zealand face off for the 102nd time on Saturday with the rivalry taken to a new destination, Nelspruit.
Saturday's test will be just the fourth time South Africa have played a test match at the Mbombela Stadium, having beaten Scotland in 2013, Wales in 2014 and Argentina in 2016.
RANKED: Current Tier 1 coaches' win ratios
Siya Kolisi made his test debut in that first test against Scotland coming off the bench early in the first half and going on to claim the man of the match award for his performance in the 30-17 victory.
This will be the 51st test match between the Springboks and All Blacks on South African soil. The hosts have won 25 of the previous test, losing one and drawing another.
It is New Zealand’s first trip to South Africa since October 2018 when they won 32-30 in Pretoria.
South Africa won their most recent meeting with New Zealand, 31-29 on neutral soil in Australia last October – their only win in the last five meetings (D1 L3). Meanwhile, New Zealand have enjoyed success in the Republic winning four in a row on South African soil dating back to a 27-25 loss in Johannesburg in October 2014.
This is the first of two matches between the two sides that will be played in South Africa. The last time New Zealand faced the Boks in back-to-back matches in South Africa, they lost both going down 28-19 in Bloemfontein and 31-19 in Durban. That was also the last time that New Zealand lost back-to-back tests against South Africa.
South Africa have won six of their last seven men’s Tests on home soil (L1), conceding 20+ points in a match just once during that period; three of their last five wins at home have come after leading at halftime on the day.
South Africa have won five of their last seven men’s Tests (L2) after losing three in a row previously; however, the Springboks have scored 4+ tries in a game just once during that period and led their opposition at halftime on just one occasion
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATS
Played 101 – New Zealand leads 60-37 with four draws
Points for: South Africa 1,625 / New Zealand 2,098 (avg. score: 16-21)
Highest score: South Africa 46 (46-40 on 19 August, 2000) / New Zealand 57 (57-0 on 16 September, 2017 / 57-15 on 8 October, 2016)
Biggest winning margin: South Africa 17 (17-0 on 30 June, 1928) / New Zealand 57 (57-0 on 16 September, 2017)
First met: 13 August, 1921 – New Zealand 13-5 South Africa – Carisbrook, Dunedin
Last met: 2 October, 2021 – South Africa 31-29 New Zealand – CBUS Super Stadium, Robina, Australia
New Zealand have won nine of their last 12 men’s Tests against South Africa (D1, L2); the All Blacks have won each of their last four matches on South African soil, however, their last two such victories have come by margins of just two points or fewer.
The last time the Springboks beat the All Blacks in South Africa
FORM
New Zealand are defending The Rugby Championship title, having finished seven points clear of Australia in 2021. South Africa finished third after three wins and three defeats.
However, since their successful Rugby Championship campaign, Ian Foster's men have lost to France on one occasion and Ireland three times.
The All Blacks come into this match on the back of a 2-1 series defeat to Ireland while South Africa head into the game on the back of a 2-1 series win over Wales in July.
New Zealand have lost their last two matches – they have not lost three tests in a row since August 1998 when they lost five consecutive matches against Australia (3) and South Africa (2).
The All Blacks have won only one of their last five tests, having ended 2021 with defeats against France and Ireland.
For the first time in 13 years, and just the fourth time in the history of New Zealand sports betting, the All Blacks are underdogs going into a Test match.
REFEREE: Angus Gardner
Debut as referee: 29 November, 2011 – Papua New Guinea 78-3 Vanuatu
Test as referee: 3
Gardner takes charge of this fixture for the third time, having overseen New Zealand’s victories in September 2016 (41-13) and October 2018 (32-30)/
South Africa have an unfavourable record with Gardner in charge losing five of their eight tests with him in the middle. One of those defeats was to Wales last month.
He has refereed New Zealand on 10 occasions (W9 L1), most recently their 104-14 win over USA in October 2021. That one defeat was a historic one - Argentina's 25-15 victory in the 2020 Tri-Nations.
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TEAM & PLAYER STATS
- Handré Pollard needs 20 points to become South Africa’s record point-scorer against New Zealand. He is currently on 120 points, 19 behind Morné Steyn.
- South Africa’s newest test centurion Eben Etzebeth will face New Zealand for the 18th time in his career, still nine shy of Victor Matfield’s record of 27.
- Sam Whitelock will face South Africa for the 21st time in his career, still five behind Richie McCaw’s record.
- Whitelock will win his 135th test cap, moving him clear of Wales’ Gethin Jenkins to become the sixth most-capped player in men’s test history.
- The Barrett brothers are 38 points away from achieving the unique feat of scoring 1,000 points combined in test rugby. Their current tally is split as follows: Beauden (708), Jordie (229) and Scott (25).
- Malcolm Marx will win his 50th cap for the Springboks.
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There are a total of 683 caps in South Africa’s starting line-up, split 449 in the forwards and 234 in the backs.
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This compares to 721 for New Zealand, split 387 in the forwards and 334 in the backs.
- The average caps per player in the Springboks backline are 33, the forwards 55, while the players on the bench average 37
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TEAM NEWS
Jacques Nienaber has made three changes to his starting line-up from their last outing against Wale.
Hooker Malcolm Marx will win his 50th cap for the Springboks, replacing Bongi Mbonambi who reached the milestone in the third test against Wales.
It will be Marx’s first start since August 2021 with his last 10 caps all having been as a replacement.
Faf de Klerk returns at scrum-half with Jaden Hendrikse dropping to the bench. The other change is enforced with Kurt-Lee Arendse named on the right wing in place of Cheslin Kolbe, who is ruled out with a broken jaw.
Second-row Salmaan Moerat comes on the bench in place of Elrigh Louw. Willie le Roux is in line to earn his 75th cap off the bench.
New Zealand coach Ian Foster has made four personnel and one positional change to the starting line-up from the third test defeat against Ireland.
Only loose-head George Bower remains in the front row with hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho and Angus Ta’avao coming in, the latter after completing his suspension. It will be only a second start for Taukei’aho in 12 tests and a first since September 2021 against Argentina.
Sam Whitelock will wear four on his back this match with Scott Barrett to partner him in the second row.
The final change sees Caleb Clarke replace Sevu Reece on the left wing for his first appearance since November 2020 against Argentina. Full-back Jordie Barrett will play his 40th test for the All Blacks.
There are five changes to the bench with props Ethan de Groot and Tyrel Lomax, back-row Shannon Frizell, scrum-half Finlay Christie and centre Quinn Tupaea selected.
LINEUPS
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STATS AND FACTS VIA: World Rugby, All Blacks, Springboks and Opta
