Wallaby captain John Solomon chaired by two Springbok players, 2nd Test 1953
The contest between The Wallabies and The Springboks is one of the major rivalries in rugby union.
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 better than 57% winning record against Australia, and before the era of sporting boycotts, dominated the early encounters up to 1971.[1] Since South African rugby's readmission in 1992, however, the head-to-head record is quite even, with Australia holding the slight edge.[2]
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 two of the four test series they played in Australia; 2-0 in 1937, 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.[3]
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 almost 60% of their games and enjoyed much success in South Africa, winning the Mandela Plate nine times in the twelve years since its inception.[4]
In the professional era, extended tours of each country have been replaced by participation in an annual series involving the top teams of the Southern Hemisphere.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 will compete 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 will feature 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. In 2011, Australia again knocked South Africa out of the competition, in a quarter-final at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, winning 11-9.
Mandela Challenge Plate
Statistics
Details |
Played |
Won by Australia |
Won by South Africa |
Drawn |
Australia points |
South Africa points |
In Australia |
35 |
22 |
12 |
1 |
749 |
564 |
In South Africa |
43 |
10 |
33 |
0 |
604 |
958 |
Neutral venue |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
38 |
30 |
Overall |
80 |
34 |
45 |
1 |
1391 |
1552 |
Source: [3]
- Highest score: South Africa 61 points (61 - 22) Australia, 23 Aug 1997 at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria. This is also the highest combined score at 83 points.
- Largest margin to Australia: 49 points (49-0) 15 Jul 2006, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
- Largest margin to South Africa: 45 points (53-8) 30 Aug 2008, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
- Longest winning streaks
- South Africa, 7 games (twice: 19 Sep 1953 - 13 Jul 1963 and 2 Aug 1969 - 7 Aug 1971)
- Australia, 5 games (4 Sept 2010 - 8 Sept 2012)
- Most tries: 8 (on three occasions, all by South Africa: 5 Aug 1961, Johannesburg, 23 Aug 1997, Pretoria, and 30 Aug 2008, Johannesburg)
- Number of games held scoreless:
- Australia: 3 (26 Aug 1933, Port Elizabeth (11-0), 2 Jun 1956, Brisbane (9-0) and 26 May 1956, Sydney (9-0))
- South Africa: 1 (15 Jul 2006, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 49-0)
List of series
Details |
Played |
Won by Australia |
Won by South Africa |
Drawn |
Overall |
10 |
2 |
7 |
1 |
Results
Date |
Venue |
Score |
Victor |
Comments |
18 July 2015 |
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
– |
|
2015 Rugby Championship |
27 September 2014 |
Newlands, Cape Town |
28 – 10 |
South Africa |
2014 Rugby Championship |
6 September 2014 |
Patersons Stadium, Perth |
24 – 23 |
Australia |
28 September 2013 |
Newlands, Cape Town |
28 – 8 |
South Africa |
2013 Rugby Championship |
7 September 2013 |
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
12 – 38 |
South Africa |
29 September 2012 |
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
31 – 8 |
South Africa |
2012 Rugby Championship |
8 September 2012 |
Patersons Stadium, Perth |
26 – 19 |
Australia |
9 October 2011 |
Westpac Stadium, Wellington |
9 – 11 |
Australia |
2011 Rugby World Cup |
13 August 2011 |
Mr Price Kings Park, Durban |
9 – 14 |
Australia |
2011 Tri Nations Series |
23 July 2011 |
ANZ Stadium, Sydney |
39 – 20 |
Australia |
4 September 2010 |
Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein |
39 – 41 |
Australia |
2010 Tri Nations Series |
28 August 2010 |
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
44 – 31 |
South Africa |
24 July 2010 |
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
30 – 13 |
Australia |
5 September 2009 |
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
21 – 6 |
Australia |
2009 Tri Nations Series |
29 August 2009 |
Subiaco Oval, Perth |
25 – 32 |
South Africa |
8 August 2009 |
Newlands, Cape Town |
29 – 17 |
South Africa |
30 August 2008 |
Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg |
53 – 8 |
South Africa |
2008 Tri Nations Series |
23 August 2008 |
ABSA Stadium, Durban |
15 – 27 |
Australia |
19 July 2008 |
Subiaco Oval, Perth |
16 – 9 |
Australia |
7 July 2007 |
Telstra Stadium, Sydney |
20 – 18 |
Australia |
2007 Tri Nations Series |
16 June 2007 |
Newlands, Cape Town |
22 – 19 |
South Africa |
9 September 2006 |
Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
24 – 16 |
South Africa |
2006 Tri Nations Series |
5 August 2006 |
Telstra Stadium, Sydney |
20 – 18 |
Australia |
15 July 2006 |
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
49 – 0 |
Australia |
20 August 2005 |
Subiaco Oval, Perth |
19 – 22 |
South Africa |
2005 Tri Nations Series |
30 July 2005 |
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
22 – 16 |
South Africa |
23 July 2005 |
Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
33 – 20 |
South Africa |
|
9 July 2005 |
Telstra Stadium, Sydney |
30 – 12 |
Australia |
|
21 August 2004 |
ABSA Stadium, Durban |
23 – 19 |
South Africa |
2004 Tri Nations Series |
31 July 2004 |
Subiaco Oval, Perth |
30 – 26 |
Australia |
2 August 2003 |
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
29 – 9 |
Australia |
2003 Tri Nations Series |
12 July 2003 |
Newlands, Cape Town |
26 – 22 |
South Africa |
17 August 2002 |
Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
33 – 31 |
South Africa |
2002 Tri Nations Series |
27 July 2002 |
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane |
38 – 27 |
Australia |
18 August 2001 |
Subiaco Oval, Perth |
14 – 14 |
draw |
2001 Tri Nations Series |
28 July 2001 |
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
20 – 15 |
South Africa |
26 August 2000 |
Kings Park, Durban |
18 – 19 |
Australia |
2000 Tri Nations Series |
29 July 2000 |
Stadium Australia, Sydney |
26 – 6 |
Australia |
8 July 2000 |
Colonial Stadium, Melbourne |
44 – 23 |
Australia |
|
30 October 1999 |
Twickenham, London |
27 – 21 |
Australia |
1999 Rugby World Cup |
14 August 1999 |
Newlands, Cape Town |
10 – 9 |
South Africa |
1999 Tri Nations Series |
17 July 1999 |
Lang Park, Brisbane |
32 – 6 |
Australia |
22 August 1998 |
Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
29 – 15 |
South Africa |
1998 Tri Nations Series |
18 July 1998 |
Subiaco Oval, Perth |
13 – 14 |
South Africa |
23 August 1997 |
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
61 – 22 |
South Africa |
1997 Tri Nations Series |
2 August 1997 |
Lang Park, Brisbane |
32 – 20 |
Australia |
3 August 1996 |
Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein |
25 – 19 |
South Africa |
1996 Tri Nations Series |
13 July 1996 |
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney |
21 – 16 |
Australia |
25 May 1995 |
Newlands, Cape Town |
18 – 27 |
South Africa |
1995 Rugby World Cup |
21 August 1993 |
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney |
19 – 12 |
Australia |
1993 Tour |
14 August 1993 |
Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane |
28 – 20 |
Australia |
31 July 1993 |
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney |
12 – 19 |
South Africa |
29 August 1992 |
Newlands, Cape Town |
3 – 26 |
Australia |
|
7 August 1971 |
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney |
6 – 18 |
South Africa |
1971 Tour |
31 July 1971 |
Exhibition Ground, Brisbane |
6 – 14 |
South Africa |
17 July 1971 |
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney |
11 – 19 |
South Africa |
20 September 1969 |
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
19 – 8 |
South Africa |
|
6 September 1969 |
Newlands, Cape Town |
11 – 3 |
South Africa |
1969 Tour |
16 August 1969 |
Kings Park, Durban |
16 – 9 |
South Africa |
2 August 1969 |
Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
30 – 11 |
South Africa |
26 June 1965 |
Lang Park, Brisbane |
12 – 8 |
Australia |
1965 Tour |
19 June 1965 |
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney |
18 – 11 |
Australia |
7 September 1963 |
Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth |
22 – 6 |
South Africa |
1963 Tour |
24 August 1963 |
Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
9 – 11 |
Australia |
10 August 1963 |
Newlands, Cape Town |
5 – 9 |
Australia |
13 July 1963 |
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
14 – 3 |
South Africa |
12 August 1961 |
Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth |
23 – 11 |
South Africa |
1961 Tour |
5 August 1961 |
Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
28 – 3 |
South Africa |
2 June 1956 |
Exhibition Ground, Brisbane |
0 – 9 |
South Africa |
1956 Tour |
26 May 1956 |
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney |
0 – 9 |
South Africa |
26 September 1953 |
Crusader Park, Port Elizabeth |
22 – 9 |
South Africa |
1953 Tour |
19 September 1953 |
Kingsmead, Durban |
18 – 8 |
South Africa |
5 September 1953 |
Newlands, Cape Town |
14 – 18 |
Australia |
22 August 1953 |
Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
25 – 3 |
South Africa |
17 July 1937 |
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney |
17 – 26 |
South Africa |
1937 Tour |
26 June 1937 |
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney |
5 – 9 |
South Africa |
2 September 1933 |
Springbok Park, Bloemfontein |
4 – 15 |
Australia |
1933 Tour |
26 August 1933 |
Crusader Park, Port Elizabeth |
11 – 0 |
South Africa |
12 August 1933 |
Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
12 – 3 |
South Africa |
22 July 1933 |
Kingsmead, Durban |
6 – 21 |
Australia |
8 July 1933 |
Newlands, Cape Town |
17 – 3 |
South Africa |
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