A look at how the Springboks’ 1995 World Cup triumph sparked an intense rivalry with the All Blacks

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The Daily Blog
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There has always been, should we say, a healthy rivalry between South Africa and New Zealand on the pitch. The two southern hemisphere rugby giants share a fascinating history that has been made up of brutality and brilliance in equal measure. Indeed, the desire to beat one another is fierce and often leads to an enthralling as well as a blood-soaked affair. 

It has been tit for tat between the two since South Africa returned to the international sporting stage in the early nineties after a lengthy ban. The Springboks, of course, drew first blood in the 1995 World Cup final when they beat the All Blacks in an emotionally charged match in Johannesburg. At the time, the New Zealanders complained of coming down with food poisoning the night before, and whilst there are some that rigorously stick to that version of events, most of that All Black side look back on that final in a different light now. 

Indeed, with the dust settled, the players who turned out for the All Blacks on a wintery day in Johannesburg some 26 years ago now appreciate the cultural importance of a Springbok win. It probably wouldn’t even be overly dramatic to say that the nation-building that took place in South Africa after that final ensured that a country officially turned its back on the idea of a civil war.  

In this sense, you could almost say that the All Blacks and the Springboks share a history that transcends the sport given how many times they have squared up when there is more than just rugby on the line. At the very least, that day on the 24th of June 1995 ignited a rivalry that had in effect been dormant for decades. 

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Needless to say, these epic battles continued throughout the late nineties and into the new millennium but both sides had to come to terms with Australia becoming the dominant force internationally after winning the 1999 World Cup. 

Then it was England’s turn to briefly sit at the summit of world rugby after claiming the spoils Down Under at the 2003 World Cup but since that day when Jonny Wilkinson kicked the winning drop goals 26 seconds from the end of the game, it has been the Springbok and All Black show. Indeed, the following four World Cups have been shared by the two rugby powerhouses with both having jostled back and forth for ultimate domination on rugby’s greatest stage. 

It should be said that it looks increasingly likely that either New Zealand or South Africa will win the next World Cup too given the odds in the latest rugby union betting for the 2023 World Cup in France. In fact, the All Blacks are the outright favourites at odds of just 2/1 but you can be sure that they will have to run through fire if they are to beat South Africa who are the current world champions. 

Irrespective of whoever ends up lifting the Webb Ellis Cup at the Stade de France in Paris in 2023, you can be certain that these two countries won’t give each other an inch in the bid to be the first nation in history to win four World Cups.