daniel chigunwe
It’s been just over 30 years since the All Blacks last suffered defeat at their Eden Park fortress.
The 23-20 defeat to France on July 3, 1994 included one of the most iconic tries in rugby history — named “the try from the end of the world”.
That try, scored four minutes from the end of the Test, had its origins in captain and wing Philippe Saint-Andre’s refusal to accept defeat and running the ball from 80 metres out. The ball passed through nine pairs of hands and, in 27 seconds, created a try for fullback Jean-Luc Sadourny. That is still regarded as the most beautifully conceived try in the history of the game.
Since that iconic match against the French, the All Blacks have gone 50 matches without defeat at the Auckland venue, with 48 wins and two draws. But in 2025, in the Rugby Championship, that record will be on the line when they take on the world champion Springboks.
The Springboks, who have beaten the All Blacks in their last four meetings, haven’t played at Eden Park since 2013 and will be licking their lips at the chance of making more history under Rassie Erasmus.
The teams will meet at Eden Park on September 6, while the second match of that mini-tour will be played in Wellington a week later.
“They’ll certainly show up,” All Blacks captain Scott Barrett said about the Springboks’ visit to New Zealand.
“They’ve probably been wanting to play there for a while. It will be a good occasion, I look forward to it.”
Meanwhile, Italy will visit South Africa for the first time since 2013 when they face the Boks on July 5 and 12, 2025. Dating back to their first visit in 1999, the Azzurri have only played seven Tests in South Africa before.
A week later, the Boks will take on Georgia on home soil for the second time, in line with World Rugby’s plans to expose emerging nations to top-tier opposition.
Georgia played one Test against South Africa in Pretoria in 2021, as prelude to the Covid 19-impacted tour of the British Lions.
The Springboks will start the defence of their Rugby Championship crown against the Wallabies on consecutive weekends in August. The Boks pumped the Wallabies in their away matches last year, but the Australians are much-improved and will be battled-hardened after the Lions series.
The Springboks will then travel to New Zealand, before they wrap up their Rugby Championship campaign home and away against Argentina.
SA Rugby says details of the venues for the home Test matches, the away match in Argentina and the November tour to Europe will be announced in due course. — SA Rugby
Bongani Ndlovu