VIDEO: It is a World Cup Final 'replay'
New Zealand has been victorious in their last two visits to the hallowed turf of Ellis Park, but statistics will count for nothing when they face off against South Africa at the famous Johannesburg venue.
The Springboks and All Blacks have met 15 times, since 1928, at the Doornfontein stadium – the venue for their World Cup Final rematch, a Rugby Championship Round Three encounter on Saturday.
The Springboks have won nine times at Ellis Park and the All Blacks six.
Of those 15 encounters, the winning margin reached double digits (10 points or more) just four times.
The two rivals have gone head-to-head 106 times since 1921 – 62 wins for the All Blacks, 40 for the Boks and four draws.
It is not only steeped in tradition, it is recognised as the biggest rivalry in the game.
Springbok forwards coach Deon Davids spoke of the ‘respect’ the two rivals have for each other.
“There will never be a Springbok side that will underestimate the opposition,” Davids said, as South Africa started their build-up to Saturday’s face-off.
He described the All Black class of 2024 as a ‘quality’ team and pointed to their impressive comeback against Argentina – delivering a 42-10 rout in Auckland, after a 30-38 loss in Wellington the week before.
“It is going to be a massive challenge,” Davids said, adding that the next fortnight will produce a ‘typical’ Springbok versus All Black face-off.
(WATCH as Springbok forwards coach Deon Davids ponders the prospects of the World Cup Final replay between South Africa and New Zealand….)
He added that it is likely to have the same intensity as the Boks’ one-point (12-11) win in the World Cup Final in Paris in October.
“If you look back at the rivalry of these two teams it is almost always close.
“There are good matchups in all aspects of the game.
“The World Cup Final had the physicality and intensity we have come to expect of these contests.
“It won’t be different than any game we play against New Zealand.
“This will be the same.”
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