The All Blacks do have a lesser record on neutral soil outside of World Cups

When the All Blacks play South Africa at Twickenham this weekend it will be New Zealand’s 50th Test match at a neutral venue, most of which have come during Rugby World Cup tournaments (38).

In the other 11 non-World Cup clashes on neutral soil, the All Blacks have won seven and lost four which is below their historical winning rate. The All Blacks first defeat to Ireland in 2016 was suffered at Soldier Field in Chicago.

This will be only the second time the All Blacks and the Springboks have clashed in London, with the first occasion was the brutal 2015 World Cup semi-final won 20-18 by the All Blacks.

A late lineout steal by Sam Whitelock denied Victor Matfield the chance to set up a last drive. The Springboks had kicked six penalties and Beauden Barrett and Jerome Kaino scored tries for the All Blacks.

Due to Covid-19 pandemic, the All Blacks 100th Test against South Africa in 2021 was shifted to Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville.

The All Blacks won an error-ridden tussle 19-17 with Jordie Barrett kicking a 45m penalty in the 77th minute. Bruising defense and cautious kicking were the order of the day.

Tries by wings Sibusiso Nkosi and Will Jordan were scored in the opening ten minutes.

South Africa exacted revenge a week later with a 31-29 victory on the Gold Coast. Elton Jantjies landed a penalty goal with the last kick of the game.

The other clash on a neutral field between the All Blacks and the Springboks was the forgettable playoff for third at the 1999 Rugby World Cup in Cardiff.

South Africa won 22-18. There was a solitary try scored by Breyton Paulse, converted by Henry Honiball who also added three penalties. Percy Montgomery slotted two drop goals. Andrew Mehrtens kicked six penalties for the All Blacks.

The first ‘neutral’ test was the 1987 World Cup semi-final against Wales in Ballymore, Brisbane. The All Blacks won 49-6 with Welsh lock Huw Richards receiving the first red card in World Cup history.

Emerging from a loose scrum, Gary Whetton elbowed Richards face. Richards punched Whetton and was in turn punched furiously by New Zealand No.8 Buck Shelford.

Richards fell to the floor following the right hook and when revived, was sent off by referee Kerry Fitzgerald. Shelford escaped punishment and scored two of the All Blacks seven tries.

The All Blacks first Test on neutral soil that wasn’t a World Cup fixture was a Bledisloe Cup Test in Hong Kong in 2008. The All Blacks beat the Wallabies 19-14 after being down by five at halftime.

Isaia Toeava was awarded the player of the day, Daniel Carter kicked three penalties, and Richie McCaw and Sitiveni Sivivatu scored tries.

The Bledisloe Cup would move to Japan in 2009 with the All Blacks winning 32-19 but back in Hong Kong a year later a last-play penalty goal from James O’Connor saw a 24-26 defeat suffered.

All Blacks first-five Stephen Donald took muck flak by failing to find touch with a late clearance but a year later he would kick the winning penalty goal in the 2011 Rugby World Cup final.

All Blacks Test Record on Neutral Soil

Played: 49
Won: 40
Lost: 9

Points For: 2178 (294 tries)
Points Against: 757 (68 tries)

World Cup: 33-5
Other: 7-4

World Cup Matches on Neutral Soil

Most Famous Win: 34-17 v Australia, 2015 Rugby World Cup Final, Twickenham, London.
Most Famous Individual Performance: Jonah Lomu 4 tries v England, 1995 Rugby World Cup semi-final, Cape Town.
Most Infamous Defeat: 18-20, France, 2007 Rugby World Cup quarter-final, Cardiff.
Biggest Win: 145-17 v Japan, 1995 Rugby World Cup, Bloemfontein. Marc Ellis scored a record six tires. Simon Culhane scored 45 points on debut.
Semi-Final Exists: Australia (6-16, 1991, Dublin), France (31-43, 1999, London), England (6-19, 2019, Tokyo)