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Latest News
Andy Vilk, head coach of Italy men's sevens
4 min read

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Italy men’s sevens team seeks return to the big stage

The European men's qualification tournament for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 is on the horizon with the prize of four tickets to Cape Town, South Africa at stake in July.

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Thu 19 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Spain Sevens Seville 2022 - Women's
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe keen to drive Ireland onto Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

We spoke to the prolific Ireland star about backing up the team’s success in Seville and plotting their path to Cape Town in September.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 26 April, 2022
4 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
5 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Everything you need to know about Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Your guide to RWC Sevens 2022, which will take place in Cape Town between 9-11 September this year.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fri 8 April, 2022
5 min read
2018 Highlights
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
08:29 mins

Highlights: New Zealand win big in San Francisco

New Zealand retained their Rugby World Cup Sevens title in San Francisco
Mon 23 July, 2018
08:29 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
07:03 mins

Highlights: New Zealand women's win Rugby World Cup Sevens

Check out all the top action as New Zealand win The Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco
Sun 22 July, 2018
07:03 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
06:30 mins

HIGHLIGHTS: Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two

Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two of action at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 #RWC7s
Sun 22 July, 2018
06:30 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day One
06:51 mins

Highlights: Men's quarter-finals decided

Men's quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup Sevens decided after incredible first day at AT&T Park
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:51 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
06:26 mins

Highlights: Women's semi-finals confirmed at Rugby World Cup Sevens

Championship semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day one of action
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:26 mins
Feature
Thursday 23 September, 2021
3 min read

Five classic All Blacks v Springboks matches

Ahead of Saturday’s 100th test between New Zealand and South Africa, we pick out five classic encounters between the teams.
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Very few people would argue – certainly outside of England and Wales – that the biggest of rugby rivalries features South Africa and New Zealand.

What makes Saturday’s encounter between the two proud rugby nations in Townsville in Queensland even more special is that the teams will come together for the 100th time in tests in the centenary year of the first fixture.

And the fact that the All Blacks have just knocked the Springboks off top spot in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings just adds further spice to the occasion.

New Zealand have 59 wins to South Africa’s 36 with four draws for good measure but which were the best matches of the lot?

We select five of the best.

TRC RD#5 TEAMS 🏉🏆@AllBlacks and @Springboks teams have been named for the historic 100th test match between the old enemies, and top two teams in world rugby, in Townsville, Australia...
Team details: https://t.co/6IJ8vE6DZp#TRC2021#NZLvRSA pic.twitter.com/frOzT82m3X

— Super Rugby/TRC (@SuperRugby) September 23, 2021

September 2018: New Zealand 34-36 South Africa (Westpac Stadium, Wellington)

This was a result no-one saw coming.

The Springboks hadn’t beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand in nine years and had been on the wrong end of a 57-0 scoreline the year before.

However, the resilience of the Springboks under Rassie Erasmus was just starting to come to fruition and they always had the edge on the scoreboard.

Aphiwe Dyantyi helped himself to a brace while the rest of the Springboks' tries were scored by Willie Le Roux, Malcolm Marx and Cheslin Kolbe, the winger’s first in test rugby.

The All Blacks had a chance to level the scores after Ardie Savea crossed for their sixth try with five minutes to go but Beauden Barrett’s conversion struck the upright.

August 2000: South Africa 46-40 New Zealand (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

Five years on from the Rugby World Cup 1995 final win, Ellis Park staged another classic but one of a very different nature as the Springboks outscored the All Blacks six tries to four.

The last points of the match actually came in the 66th minute when Werner Swanepoel scored the second of his two tries, so who knows what the eventual scoreline would have been had the teams maintained their efficiency in attack until the very last whistle.

The Springboks scored at virtually a point every minute in leading 33-13 just past the half-hour mark and their eventual tally of 46 was a record against the All Blacks by any team until Australia went one better in 2019.

🍿 WATCH | To get you hyped for Saturday we take you back to 2010 for another epic contest against the Springboks.#NZLvRSA100

🎥 @skysportnz

— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) September 23, 2021

August 1996: South Africa 26-33 New Zealand (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)

1996 has been called the greatest year for All Blacks rugby which is quite something when you consider none of their three Rugby World Cup wins fell in that year.

One year on from their Rugby World Cup 1995 final defeat to the Springboks, the newly-crown Tri-Nations champions set off for South Africa determined to put the record straight and win their first series there at the sixth attempt.

Despite the absence of Jonah Lomu on the left wing due to a slight knee cartilage tear, the All Blacks had managed wins in Cape Town and Durban to go to Pretoria 2-0 up in the four-test series.

Two superb tries from Jeff Wilson and another from Zinzan Brooke, who also kicked a trademark drop goal, and an heroic defensive effort in the face of a second-half onslaught, saw them create history.

June 1995: South Africa 15-12 (aet) New Zealand (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

The first Rugby World Cup final to go to extra-time had everything – intrigue in the pre-match build-up, the game’s first real superstar and the most dramatic of finishes.

The Springboks managed to nullify the threat of Jonah Lomu, who’d ran riot throughout the rest of the tournament, but the hopes of the newly-unified nation still rested on the cool shoulders of Joel Stransky as normal time ended with honours even at 9-9.

Stransky had traded kicks with his opposite number, Andrew Mehrtens, throughout and that continued in extra-time until the Springbok fly-half landed the telling drop goal.

“It was just a phenomenal game. We could have won it before full-time and New Zealand could have won it before full-time and then we went into extra-time,” recalled winning captain Francois Pienaar.

August 1956: New Zealand 17-10 South Africa (Lancaster Park, Christchurch)

Until 1956 the All Blacks had never won a series against the Springboks, but they went into the fourth test 2-1 up and on the brink of making history.

Everything depended on the result at Lancaster Park, and it drew a crowd of 61,240, still a New Zealand test record.

The mammoth boot of Don Clarke gave New Zealand a slender 3-0 lead at half-time but it was Peter Jones’ fine individual effort that effectively sealed the win.

Jones, a huge loose forward in those days, used his footballing skills to kick a loose ball from a lineout towards the try line and then gathered it in, expertly, before touching down to the delight of the masses crammed around the touchline.

Read more: All Blacks return to the top of the World Rugby Men’s Rankings >>

Trending News Show all
HSBC London Sevens 2022
7 min read

HSBC London Sevens

South Africa and New Zealand back with a bang in London

South Africa and New Zealand bounced back from shock exits in Toulouse by topping their Pools on day one at Twickenham, while in-form Fiji and Samoa did likewise, and Series leaders Argentina were knocked out.

HSBC London Sevens

Sat 28 May, 2022
7 min read
HSBC Canada Sevens 2022
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Marcos Moneta on his rapid rise and historic sevens season for Argentina

The Los Pumas Sevens speedster has had a year to remember by scooping up individual and team accolades, and he tells World Rugby about the journey so far and how football influenced his playing style.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 26 May, 2022
3 min read
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3 min read

Rugby sevens

London welcomes the stars of rugby sevens

A huge crowd will welcome all 16 core teams for the penultimate round of the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series at Twickenham Stadium on 28-29 May with all to play for in the race for the 2022 Series title

Rugby sevens

Wed 25 May, 2022
3 min read
Alex Davis England Sevens
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – London

England sevens skipper Davis: “Let’s embrace and enjoy playing at home”

Ahead of this weekend’s action in Twickenham, captain Alex Davis reveals what it’s like to step out in front of a home crowd in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – London

Tue 24 May, 2022
3 min read
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7 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Toulouse

Fiji and New Zealand the winners after a brilliant HSBC France Sevens

Ireland reach their first ever men’s final as the women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series comes to an end for 2022 with Australia worthy winners following an outstanding season. Argentina hold a two-point lead over South Africa in the men's Series standings

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Toulouse

Sun 22 May, 2022
7 min read
HSBC France Sevens 2022 Men's
8 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Toulouse

Big names fall on dramatic day of upsets at HSBC France Sevens in Toulouse

Argentina and Australia were knocked out in the men’s quarter-finals, while Series leaders South Africa and heavyweights New Zealand failed to even make the knockout stages. Australia and New Zealand’s women impressed, while Fiji reached the final four in both events.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Toulouse

Sat 21 May, 2022
8 min read
HSBC France Sevens 2022 Men's
6 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series - Toulouse

Men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series favourites suffer shock defeats on opening day in Toulouse as women’s champions Australia continue fine form

South Africa, Australia and Argentina were all beaten on the opening day of the HSBC France Sevens men’s event, while New Zealand and Australia caught the eye with some big wins in the women’s competition

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series - Toulouse

Fri 20 May, 2022
6 min read
Rikki Swannell becomes first females to commentate on men's series
5 min read

Feature

Behind the microphone: Groundbreaker Rikki Swannell

World Rugby talks to the New Zealander about becoming the first female lead commentator on the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and her life in sports broadcasting.

Feature

Fri 20 May, 2022
5 min read
Andy Vilk, head coach of Italy men's sevens
4 min read

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Italy men’s sevens team seeks return to the big stage

The European men's qualification tournament for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 is on the horizon with the prize of four tickets to Cape Town, South Africa at stake in July.

RWC Sevens 2022 qualifying

Thu 19 May, 2022
4 min read
Serevi Coaching Roadshow - HSBC Event
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Fiji are in Toulouse to win: “There is still room for improvement,” says Gollings

Gold and silver medals in their last two HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series outings have Fiji feeling good ahead of French tournament

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 19 May, 2022
3 min read
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