The All Blacks will put their 50-Test unbeaten record at Eden Park on the line in 2025 when they host the World Cup-winning Springboks.
The showdown in Auckland will be the first time the Boks have played in New Zealand since 2023, with both the 2024 Rugby Championship matches taking place in South Africa.
It will also be the first time that the Springboks face their old foe at their fortress since 2013, a match that was filled with controversy after South African hooker Bismarck du Plessis was given his marching orders after two yellow cards – one for a tackle on Dan Carter, a decision that still irks Bok fans to this day.
New Zealand Rugby have opted to host France in Dunedin, Wellington and Hamilton next year, meaning that the Rugby Championship clash with the Boks will be the first time that their 30-year unbeaten run at their spiritual home will be under threat in 2024.
With that in mind, we take a look at how South Africa have fared against the All Blacks at the ground since the streak began.
Springboks’ record at Eden Park since 1994
New Zealand’s record at Eden Park, since their defeat to France at the ground in 1994, stands at 50 Tests, 48 wins and two draws.
They have faced 12 different opponents at the venue in Auckland over the last 30 years with only South Africa and the British and Irish Lions leaving the All Blacks’ fortress with anything other than a defeat.
Australia have been the biggest losers at the ground over the years, losing 20 Tests at Eden Park during this time, with France and England falling to a defeat on five occasions each and Ireland four.
Surprisingly, the Springboks have visited the ground on just five occasions over the years, with the other Test matches on New Zealand soil taking place in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Albany and at Auckland’s other stadium, Mount Smart.
South Africa were the All Blacks’ first opponents at Eden Park in 1994 following that defeat to France and the Springboks came close to making it back-to-back defeats, with full-back Shane Howarth nailing a penalty to level the scores in the final 10 minutes.
The Boks’ next visit to Eden Park was in 1997 when John Hart’s All Blacks team swept the then-World Cup winners aside in a crushing 55-35victory, scoring seven tries to South Africa’s five.
Harry Viljoen’s Springboks fared a bit better four years later but also left Eden Park empty-handed as Braam van Staaten’s five penalties was not enough to beat the All Blacks, who scored two tries and four penalties in their 26-15 victory.
De Villiers and Meyer’s misery
During his time as Springboks head coach, Jake White never faced the old foe at their fortress but his successor Peter de Villiers did and his charges were comprehensively beaten 32-12 in 2010.
South Africa’s last visit to Eden Park was that clash in 2013 when Heyneke Meyer was head coach of the side. As mentioned above, the match was filled with controversy particularly over Du Plessis’ sending off.
The hooker was sent from the pitch for his second yellow card for elbowing All Blacks flanker Liam Messam at a time when South Africa were 17-10 down, but matters got worse shortly afterwards as Kieran Read dotted down for New Zealand. Read would grab another and visit the sin bin along with Ma’a Nonu but by that time the game was beyond reach for the Boks even when Pat Lambie went over for a late try in the 29-15 defeat.
On September 6, Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry will resume at the All Blacks’ fortress as Rassie Erasmus will look to rectify the Springboks’ record at the iconic ground. It will also be Scott Robertson’s first match against the Springboks in New Zealand after falling to back-to-back defeats in South Africa in 2024.
South Africa’s record at Eden Park since 1994
Four losses, one draw
14/09/2013 – 29-15
10/07/2010 – 32-12
25/08/2001 – 26-15
9/08/1997 – 55-35
6/08/1994 – 18-18
