SA v Aus by numbers
The Springboks host the Wallabies on Saturday. We take a look at some historical notes.
This will be the 79th meeting between Australia and South Africa at all venues. Australia have won 33 and South Africa 44, while one match has been drawn.
Prior to South Africa's readmission to international sport in 1992, the Wallabies had won just seven of the 31 matches played against the Springboks. The scoreboard stands at 26 wins to 20 in Australia's favour, along with a draw, for the period since then.
This tally includes two matches played on neutral territory at World Cups. The most recent was in last year's World Cup quarter-final in Wellington. Australia's thrilling 11-9 victory, which was achieved via a James O'Connor penalty goal nine minutes from full-time, added to the 27-21 win Australia enjoyed over South Africa after extra time in the 1999 World Cup semifinal at Twickenham Stadium in London.
Ten of Australia's previous wins have been attained on South African soil, with the Springboks taking the other 30 matches that have been played.
Australia have won their last two matches on South African soil, and three of six under the stewardship of Robbie Deans since he took over in 2008. Prior to this time, Australia had won just once in South Africa in the professional era (1996-2007).
Australia have won three times previously at Highveldt venues – in 1933 and 2010 at Bloemfontein and 1963 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
The Wallabies have been beaten on all five previous visits to Loftus Versfeld in 1963, 1997, 2001, 2005 and 2010.
Australia led 21-7 at one point on its last visit to Loftus two years ago, and held a 28-24 half-time advantage, before falling 31-44 in the 2010 Tri-Nations match. A week later, in a similarly high scoring contest, fullback Kurtley Beale kicked an after-the-bell penalty goal to clinch for the Wallabies a 41-39 success at Bloemfontein. This represented Australia's first win on the South African Highveldt for 13 matches through 47 years.
Australia are chasing their sixth win in succession against South Africa on Saturday.
Success would extend the new record for consecutive wins by Australia against South Africa since that country was readmitted to world sport in 1992.
The previous record, of four in a row which was achieved through 1999 and 2000, was eclipsed when Australia notched up its fifth consecutive win over South Africa earlier this month in Perth.
The current winning run was begun by the historic 41-39 win at Bloemfontein in 2010.
As well as setting a new Australian record for consecutive wins over South Africa, the win at Perth earlier this month – which retained for Australia the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate for a third straight year – also represented the Wallabies' seventh win from the last eight matches against the Springboks dating back to the final meeting of the 2009 Tri-Nations in Brisbane.
Prior to last year, Australia had not won back-to-back Tests against the Boks on South Africa soil.
Saturday's clash at Pretoria sees the Wallabies bidding for three wins in a row in the Republic, but a first win (at its sixth attempt) from Tests at Loftus Versfeld.
South Africa v Australia in Pretoria:
1963: South Africa 14, Australia 3
1997: South Africa 61, Australia 22
2001: South Africa 20, Australia 15
2005: South Africa 22, Australia 16
2010: South Africa 44, Australia 31
* Rotate the pics to see our off-beat gallery of the build-up!
