Rugby World Cup: the five notable duels between New Zealand and South Africa

Three times world champions each, New Zealand and South Africa meet for the sixth time in a World Cup. Advantage to the men in black 3-2. New Zealand's last defeat against the Sprinboks in this competition dates back to 1999. The two teams each have three world crowns, but South Africa has never lost in the final, unlike New Zealand who were beaten in the final in 1995 by... the Boks.

A memorable confrontation. The Springboks and their emblematic captain François Pienaar win the first World Cup in their history. Absent in 1987 and 1991, due to its apartheid policy, South Africa participated in its first World Cup in 1995, at home. In Johannesburg, on the lawn of Ellis Park and under the eyes of Nelson Mandela, elected president in 1994, the Boks, thanks to a victorious drop from Joel Stransky during overtime, dominated New Zealand in the final (15- 12 A.P.). We learned later that the All Blacks, victims of food poisoning, had been greatly reduced before this match...

Four years after their historic coronation, the South Africans meet the New Zealanders for the “small final” in Cardiff, Wales. After losing to Australia (27-21) in the semi-final, the Boks face Lomu's teammates traumatized after their brutal elimination against the Blues (43-31) of Christophe Dominici. Thanks in particular to two drops from their back Percy Montgomery, the reigning world champions took third place in the competition (22-18), in a dull match with no tries for New Zealand and only one for the South Africa. Black is black for Black people.

Also read “The All Blacks, my ideal game”: confessions of André Boniface, legend of the XV of France

This is the All Blacks' first victory against the Boks in the World Cup. Well ahead of the group stage, the New Zealanders arrive calmly in Australia in Melbourne for the quarter against South Africa. Thanks to three tries against the overwhelmed South Africans (29-9), John Mitchell's men advance to the semi-final against Australia. A success without follow-up since the men in black lost a week later against Australia (10-22).

In the pouring London rain, in the semi-final at Twickenham, the All Blacks, reigning world champions, who pulverized the French (62-13) in the quarters, still have the last word against South Africa. Led by the Springboks in the first period (7-12), the Kiwis, despite strong indiscipline, overthrew their rivals, carried by Dan Carter, author of a decisive drop at the end of the match (20-18). By dominating Australia in the final (39-17), New Zealand became the first team to win two World Cups in a row.

This is the only confrontation between the two rivals in the group stage. Long dominated in the first period, the All Blacks, who took the lead in eight minutes by scoring two tries by George Bridge and Scott Barrett then a penalty (17-3), brought down the Boks 23 to 13. Despite this opening defeat of the Japanese World Cup, it is the South Africans who will go to the end of the competition for the third time, outclassing England in the final (32-12).