History of rugby union matches between Australia and South Africa
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Solomon_chaired_1953.jpg/150px-Solomon_chaired_1953.jpg)
The contest between The Wallabies and The Springboks is one of the major rivalries in rugby union. Since 2000s, the two teams have competed for the Mandela Challenge Plate.
The teams' first meeting was on 8 July 1933 at Newlands in Cape Town in the first of 5 tests on the 1933 Wallabies tour. The test was won 17–3 by South Africa who also won that first series 3–2.
South Africa has a 53.8% winning record against Australia, and before the era of sporting boycotts, dominated the early encounters up to 1971.[1]
Both sides have exhibited a considerable home advantage, with the Springboks winning more than 75% of matches played in South Africa, and the Wallabies winning more than 60% of matches played in Australia.
In the amateur era, the Springboks made five tours to Australia, and were undefeated in three of them. South Africa won three of the five test series they played in Australia; 2–0 in 1937, 2-0 in 1956 and 3–0 in 1971. By contrast, the Wallabies made six tours to South Africa, only once making it through undefeated, albeit on a tour comprising only four matches and one test in 1992. Prior to that, Australia's best away tour was the 2-all drawn test series of 1963.[2]
Prior to 1972, South African teams were racially selected, organised by the whites-only South African Rugby Board. Australia then supported the international boycott of sporting contacts with South Africa over the issue of apartheid. The teams did not meet again until 1992, when apartheid was being dismantled and the SARB had merged with the non-racial South African Rugby Union. Since that time Australia has won just over 50% of their games and has won the Mandela Plate nine times in the twelve years since its inception.[3]
In the professional era, extended tours of each country have been replaced by participation in an annual series involving the top teams of the Southern Hemisphere. From 1996 through 2011, Australia and South Africa competed alongside New Zealand in the Tri Nations series. Starting in 2012, the three nations competed alongside Argentina in The Rugby Championship. In the Tri Nations era, the Wallabies and Springboks played two or three encounters each year on a home-and-away basis; the Rugby Championship features two annual encounters, also on a home-and-away basis.
Rugby World Cup
Australia and South Africa have met three times in the Rugby World Cup. In 1995 they were drawn in the same pool and host nation South Africa won 27–18, going on to win the cup. In 1999 Australia knocked South Africa out of the competition in a semi-final at Twickenham, winning 27–21, after extra-time. In 2011, Australia again knocked South Africa out of the competition, in a quarter-final at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, winning 11–9.
Summary
Overall
Details | Played | Won by Australia |
Won by South Africa |
Drawn | Australia points | South Africa points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
In Australia | 45 | 28 | 15 | 2 | 952 | 789 |
In South Africa | 48 | 10 | 37 | 1 | 682 | 1,104 |
Neutral venue | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 30 |
Overall | 95 | 40 | 52 | 3 | 1,672 | 1,923 |
Records
Note: Date shown in brackets indicates when the record was or last set.
Record | Australia | South Africa |
---|---|---|
Longest winning streak | 5 (4 September 2010 – 29 September 2012) | 7 (19 September 1953 – 10 August 1963; 2 August 1969 – 29 August 1992) |
Largest points for | ||
Home | 49 (15 July 2006) | 61 (23 August 1997) |
Away | 41 (4 September 2010) | 38 (7 September 2013) |
Largest winning margin | ||
Home | 49 (15 July 2006) | 45 (30 August 2008) |
Away | 23 (29 August 1992) | 26 (7 September 2013, 10 August 2024) |
Largest aggregate score | ||
83 (South Africa 61–22 Australia) (23 August 1997) |
Results
No. | Date | Venue | Score | Winner | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8 July 1933 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town | 17–3 | ![]() |
1933 Australia tour of South Africa |
2 | 22 July 1933 | Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban | 6–21 | ![]() | |
3 | 12 August 1933 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg | 12–3 | ![]() | |
4 | 26 August 1933 | St George's Park, Port Elizabeth | 11–0 | ![]() | |
5 | 2 September 1933 | Springbok Park, Bloemfontein | 4–15 | ![]() | |
6 | 26 June 1937 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 5–9 | ![]() |
1937 South Africa tour of Australia and New Zealand |
7 | 17 July 1937 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 17–26 | ![]() | |
8 | 22 August 1953 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg | 25–3 | ![]() |
1953 Australia tour of South Africa |
9 | 5 September 1953 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town | 14–18 | ![]() | |
10 | 19 September 1953 | Kingsmead, Durban | 18–8 | ![]() | |
11 | 26 September 1953 | St George's Park, Port Elizabeth | 22–9 | ![]() | |
12 | 26 May 1956 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 0–9 | ![]() |
1956 South Africa tour of Australia and New Zealand |
13 | 2 June 1956 | Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane | 0–9 | ![]() | |
14 | 5 August 1961 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg | 28–3 | ![]() |
1961 Australia tour of South Africa |
15 | 12 August 1961 | Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 23–11 | ![]() | |
16 | 13 July 1963 | Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria | 14–3 | ![]() |
1963 Australia tour of South Africa |
17 | 10 August 1963 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town | 5–9 | ![]() | |
18 | 24 August 1963 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg | 9–11 | ![]() | |
19 | 7 September 1963 | Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 22–6 | ![]() | |
20 | 19 June 1965 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 18–11 | ![]() |
1965 South Africa tour of Australia and New Zealand |
21 | 26 June 1965 | Lang Park, Brisbane | 12–8 | ![]() | |
22 | 2 August 1969 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg | 30–11 | ![]() |
1969 Australia tour of South Africa |
23 | 16 August 1969 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | 16–9 | ![]() | |
24 | 6 September 1969 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town | 11–3 | ![]() | |
25 | 20 September 1969 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein | 19–8 | ![]() | |
26 | 17 July 1971 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 11–19 | ![]() |
1971 South Africa tour of Australia |
27 | 31 July 1971 | Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane | 6–14 | ![]() | |
28 | 7 August 1971 | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | 6–18 | ![]() | |
29 | 29 August 1992 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town | 3–26 | ![]() |
1992 Australia tour of South Africa |
30 | 31 July 1993 | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney | 12–19 | ![]() |
1993 South Africa tour of Australia |
31 | 14 August 1993 | Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane | 28–20 | ![]() | |
32 | 21 August 1993 | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney | 19–12 | ![]() | |
33 | 25 May 1995 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town | 18–27 | ![]() |
1995 Rugby World Cup |
34 | 13 July 1996 | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney | 21–16 | ![]() |
1996 Tri Nations Series |
35 | 3 August 1996 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfentein | 25–19 | ![]() | |
36 | 2 August 1997 | Lang Park, Brisbane | 32–20 | ![]() |
1997 Tri Nations Series |
37 | 23 August 1997 | Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria | 61–22 | ![]() | |
38 | 18 July 1998 | Subiaco Oval, Perth | 13–14 | ![]() |
1998 Tri Nations Series |
39 | 22 August 1998 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg | 29–15 | ![]() | |
40 | 17 July 1999 | Lang Park, Brisbane | 32–6 | ![]() |
1999 Tri Nations Series |
41 | 14 August 1999 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town | 10–9 | ![]() | |
42 | 30 October 1999 | Twickenham Stadium, London (England) | 27–21 | ![]() |
1999 Rugby World Cup |
43 | 8 July 2000 | Docklands Stadium, Melbourne | 44–23 | ![]() |
2000 Summer International |
44 | 29 July 2000 | Stadium Australia, Sydney | 26–6 | ![]() |
2000 Tri Nations Series |
45 | 26 August 2000 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | 18–19 | ![]() | |
46 | 28 July 2001 | Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria | 20–15 | ![]() |
2001 Tri Nations Series |
47 | 18 August 2001 | Subiaco Oval, Perth | 14–14 | draw | |
48 | 27 July 2002 | Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane | 38–27 | ![]() |
2002 Tri Nations Series |
49 | 17 August 2002 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg | 33–31 | ![]() | |
50 | 12 July 2003 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town | 26–22 | ![]() |
2003 Tri Nations Series |
51 | 2 August 2003 | Lang Park, Brisbane | 29–9 | ![]() | |
52 | 31 July 2004 | Subiaco Oval, Perth | 30–26 | ![]() |
2004 Tri Nations Series |
53 | 21 August 2004 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | 23–19 | ![]() | |
54 | 9 July 2005 | Stadium Australia, Sydney | 30–12 | ![]() |
2005 Summer International |
55 | 23 July 2005 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg | 33–20 | ![]() | |
56 | 30 July 2005 | Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria | 22–16 | ![]() |
2005 Tri Nations Series |
57 | 20 August 2005 | Subiaco Oval, Perth | 19–22 | ![]() | |
58 | 15 July 2006 | Lang Park, Brisbane | 49–0 | ![]() |
2006 Tri Nations Series |
59 | 5 August 2006 | Stadium Australia, Sydney | 20–18 | ![]() | |
60 | 9 September 2006 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg | 24–16 | ![]() | |
61 | 16 June 2007 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town | 22–19 | ![]() |
2007 Tri Nations Series |
62 | 7 July 2007 | Stadium Australia, Sydney | 25–17 | ![]() | |
63 | 19 July 2008 | Subiaco Oval, Perth | 16–9 | ![]() |
2008 Tri Nations Series |
64 | 23 August 2008 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | 15–27 | ![]() | |
65 | 30 August 2008 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg | 53–8 | ![]() | |
66 | 8 August 2009 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town | 29–17 | ![]() |
2009 Tri Nations Series |
67 | 29 August 2009 | Subiaco Oval, Perth | 25–32 | ![]() | |
68 | 5 September 2009 | Lang Park, Brisbane | 21–6 | ![]() | |
69 | 24 July 2010 | Lang Park, Brisbane | 30–13 | ![]() |
2010 Tri Nations Series |
70 | 28 August 2010 | Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria | 44–31 | ![]() | |
71 | 4 September 2010 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein | 39–41 | ![]() | |
72 | 23 July 2011 | Stadium Australia, Sydney | 39–20 | ![]() |
2011 Tri Nations Series |
73 | 13 August 2011 | Kings Park Stadium, Durban | 9–14 | ![]() | |
74 | 9 October 2011 | Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington (New Zealand) | 9–11 | ![]() |
2011 Rugby World Cup |
75 | 8 September 2012 | Subiaco Oval, Perth | 26–19 | ![]() |
2012 Rugby Championship |
76 | 29 September 2012 | Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria | 31–8 | ![]() | |
77 | 7 September 2013 | Lang Park, Brisbane | 12–38 | ![]() |
2013 Rugby Championship |
78 | 28 September 2013 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town | 28–8 | ![]() | |
79 | 6 September 2014 | Subiaco Oval, Perth | 24–23 | ![]() |
2014 Rugby Championship |
80 | 27 September 2014 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town | 28–10 | ![]() | |
81 | 18 July 2015 | Lang Park, Brisbane | 24–20 | ![]() |
2015 Rugby Championship |
82 | 10 September 2016 | Lang Park, Brisbane | 23–17 | ![]() |
2016 Rugby Championship |
83 | 1 October 2016 | Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria | 18–10 | ![]() | |
84 | 9 September 2017 | Perth Oval, Perth | 23–23 | draw | 2017 Rugby Championship |
85 | 30 September 2017 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein | 27–27 | draw | |
86 | 8 September 2018 | Lang Park, Brisbane | 23–18 | ![]() |
2018 Rugby Championship |
87 | 29 September 2018 | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 23–12 | ![]() | |
88 | 20 July 2019 | Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg | 35–17 | ![]() |
2019 Rugby Championship |
89 | 11 September 2021 | Robina Stadium, Gold Coast[a] | 26–28 | ![]() |
2021 Rugby Championship |
90 | 18 September 2021 | Lang Park, Brisbane | 30–17 | ![]() | |
91 | 27 August 2022 | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | 25–17 | ![]() |
2022 Rugby Championship |
92 | 3 September 2022 | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney | 8–24 | ![]() | |
93 | 8 July 2023 | Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria | 43–12 | ![]() |
2023 Rugby Championship |
94 | 10 August 2024 | Lang Park, Brisbane | 7–33 | ![]() |
2024 Rugby Championship |
95 | 17 August 2024 | Perth Stadium, Perth | 12–30 | ![]() |
XV results
Below is a list of matches that Australia has retrospectively awarded matches test match status by virtue of awarding caps, but South Africa did not award caps.
Date | Venue | Score | Winner | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 July 1921 | University Oval, Sydney | 9–28 | ![]() |
1921 South Africa tour of Australia and New Zealand |
27 June 1921 | Royal Agricultural Showground, Sydney | 11–16 | ![]() | |
25 June 1921 | Royal Agricultural Showground, Sydney | 10–25 | ![]() |
List of series
Played | Won by Australia |
Won by South Africa |
Drawn |
---|---|---|---|
10 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
Year | Australia | South Africa | Series winner |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
2 | 3 | ![]() |
![]() |
0 | 2 | ![]() |
![]() |
1 | 3 | ![]() |
![]() |
0 | 2 | ![]() |
![]() |
0 | 2 | ![]() |
![]() |
2 | 2 | draw |
![]() |
2 | 0 | ![]() |
![]() |
0 | 4 | ![]() |
![]() |
0 | 3 | ![]() |
![]() |
2 | 1 | ![]() |
See also
Notes
- ^ Match was relocated from the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney. Despite the match venue being located in Australia, South Africa was nominally the home team.
References
- ^ "ESPNscrum Team Records". espnscrum.com. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ^ Pick and Go rugby archive Archived 21 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine – select Wallabies and Boks.
- ^ National rugby unions