Australia Rugby News

The Australian rugby team, nicknamed the Wallabies, is a force on the international stage. As one of the world’s oldest rugby teams, they contested their first international at Sydney Cricket Ground in 1899.

The Australia rugby team is the second-most successful side in the history of The Rugby Championship, with four titles (joint with South Africa). They’re also the third-most successful in the history of the Rugby World Cup, as they’ve lifted the Webb Ellis Cup twice (1991, 1999).

This second win made Australia the first nation to claim two Rugby World Cups. Five years later, in 2004, the Wallabies secured their highest-ever World Rugby Ranking, reaching number two in the world.

Wallabies Versus Springboks

The Wallabies and the Springboks first met in 1921, during South Africa’s tour of Australia and New Zealand. The Wallabies lost all three matches against a South Africa XV, a result that sparked a long-standing rivalry.

The teams played in their first official test match against each other in 1933. Again, South Africa emerged victorious. Two weeks later, Australia exacted their revenge and defeated the Springboks 21-6 in Durban.

As of 2024, the teams have played in almost 100 test matches against each other. The Wallabies’ news-worthy encounters include their largest victory over the Springboks: a 49-0 triumph in 2006. In contrast, South Africa handed Australia their worst ever defeat: a 53-8 loss in 2008.

Both nations compete in The Rugby Championship and the Rugby World Cup. In the Rugby Championship, the teams are tied with four titles each. In the RWC, the Springboks have four wins to Australia’s two. The teams have also contested three RWC matches: Australia won two (1999, 2011), while South Africa won one (1995).

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