1
Springboks v All Blacks - What do the numbers say?
By Sam Smith
- New Zealand have scored 114 points in their last two games against South Africa (exactly 57 on each occasion), and are coming off the back of the biggest win in the history of this fixture (57-0).
- The All Blacks have now won five games on the bounce against South Africa, the last time they won more in succession was an eight-game streak from 2001 to 2004.
- This will be the 10th meeting between these sides at Newlands Stadium; in none of the previous nine meetings at the venue did either side score 30+ points; in fact only twice has a side reached 20 points.
- The Springboks have won eight of their last 10 games at Newlands Stadium, but will be looking to avoid back-to-back defeats at the venue for the first time since 1974 after a six-point loss to Ireland in 2016.
- In fact, South Africa have lost only one of their last 10 Tests on home turf (W8, D1), a 57-15 loss to New Zealand in October 2016 the only blemish in that period.
- New Zealand have scored 221 points and 32 tries in this tournament this year, they need 42 points and seven tries in this game to break the competition records they set last year.
- New Zealand are the only side yet to lose a scrum on their own feed in this tournament, winning 39 from 39.
- New Zealand have scored 19 first-half tries this Rugby Championship campaign, more than three times as many as any other team (Australia 6, South Africa 5, Argentina 4).
- The Springboks are the only team this tournament to have used just one goal kicker, with Elton Jantjies booting 23 of his 28 attempts.
- All Blacks duo Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett have each made 57 carries this campaign, more than any other player at the tournament.
ADVERTISEMENT
