No one can say that this year’s Rugby Championships have been in any way dull! On Saturday 15 September the Springboks gained national-hero status after toppling New Zealand, the global leaders, on their home ground in Wellington. This wasn’t only a huge upset – it was also a record-breaking match on many fronts.
The match was won by the Boks 36-34 and 36 is the most points the All Blacks have every conceded at home. The previous record was 35, in Auckland in 1997 when they played, and in this instance triumphed over, the Springboks. 34 is also the most points the All Blacks have ever scored at home without winning. The previous record was 29, when the All Blacks lost 32-29 to the Springboks in Hamilton in 2009!
Springboks gain a huge morale boost
This magnificent win by the Boks is a tremendous feather in the cap of this young team and has scored them major psychological points ahead of the World Cup in Japan. What’s even more heartening is that this win was made by such a relatively inexperienced team. South Africa’s last win in New Zealand was in Hamilton in 2009 and this was played by a team that contained many decorated Springbok players who had already triumphed in the World Cup and the British and Irish Lions series.
It is hoped that this recent magnificent triumph will help the young team when they take on the All Blacks again at Loftus at the end of the current Championship on October 6. Despite what happens in this match, everyone will know that the long-time world champions, the All Blacks, can be beaten!
South Africa is currently ranked in 2nd place
The 2018 Rugby Championship ranking, prior to the next game on 29 September when the Springboks take on Australia in Port Elizabeth, puts New Zealand in 1st place, followed by South Africa in 2nd place, then Argentina in 3rd place, with Australia in 4th position.
Upcoming Rugby Championship matches
29 September
South Africa vs Australia, Port Elizabeth (17:05)
Argentina vs New Zealand, Buenos Aires (00:40)
6 October
South Africa vs New Zealand, Pretoria (17:05)
October 7
Argentina v Australia, Salta (00:40)