{"id":895098,"date":"2026-09-17T08:26:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T08:26:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/895098\/"},"modified":"2026-09-17T08:26:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T08:26:09","slug":"springboks-v-all-blacks-biggest-winners-and-losers-from-rugbys-greatest-rivalry-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/895098\/","title":{"rendered":"Springboks v All Blacks: Biggest winners and losers from Rugby\u2019s Greatest Rivalry series"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following the completion of the inaugural Rugby\u2019s Greatest Rivalry series, here are our winners and losers from the Springboks<\/a>\u2019 3-1 triumph across four epic encounters.<\/p>\n

A series South Africa started as rugby\u2019s world\u2019s number one nation saw them lose both their top ranking and their 12-match winning streak before rallying to emphatically clinch the trophy with successive victories at sea level, altitude and on a different continent.<\/p>\n

From first to last this was a series you could not take your eyes off; from New Zealand\u2019s five-match winning start, which forced Rassie Erasmus\u2019 Boks into a corner, to the power-packed response of the world champions.<\/p>\n

There is more going on in rugby than this series, as Top-14 fans have pointed out, but for six weeks this has been a captivating watch, a spectacle rich in theatre which has shown the rest of the world the standard that will be required if South Africa are to be dethroned a year from now.<\/p>\n

WINNERS<\/p>\n

Siya Kolisi<\/p>\n

Siyamthanda Kolisi had earned himself iconic status long before this series, but what he did in Cape Town, Soweto and Baltimore silenced any doubts that, at 35 years of age, he is a fading force unlikely to make it to the World Cup.<\/p>\n

Rewind to early last month when he pulled a hamstring in Buenos Aires and was ruled out of the opening Test at Ellis Park. There were plenty of voices unconcerned as it meant an opportunity for the fast-emerging Paul de Villiers.<\/p>\n

Eighty minutes later and the All Blacks<\/a> were 1-0 up after handing the Boks their first loss in a year by five tries to one. It was not a loss to pin on one man, particularly not De Villiers, who let nobody down with his performance.<\/p>\n

But he was not Kolisi. He did not bring that aura, that leadership, that togetherness which the Pride of Zwide does like nobody else in the game. A week later Kolisi returned with Bok backs to the wall. The tone he set that afternoon in Cape Town carried his side through the next three weekends.<\/p>\n

After the final Test in Baltimore, Kolisi hailed Rassie Erasmus<\/a> for instilling a belief that the team is bigger than any individual. Fair comment, but Kolisi has been every bit as influential as his boss.<\/p>\n

At DHL Stadium he produced a towering 45 minutes, oozing physicality, scoring the try that put daylight between the teams on the stroke of half-time, then ensuring there was no let-up with a thunderous hit on Kiwi totem Ardie Savea before departing to a standing ovation.<\/p>\n

The following week his words harnessed the emotional energy of playing in and for Soweto. In a match the Boks had to win to not lose the \u2018series\u2019 on home soil he was top tackler during his time on the field.<\/p>\n

Nobody, least of all Kolisi, would claim he did it alone. Jasper Wiese was immense, especially in games one and four, Malcolm Marx and Eben Etzebeth were equally huge in bringing the power.<\/p>\n

But it all started with Kolisi. De Villiers is the coming man, no doubt, but Siya is going nowhere.<\/p>\n

State of the Nation: Rassie Erasmus \u2018magic\u2019 central to Springboks \u2018juggernaut\u2019 consolidating their position as the world\u2019s best<\/a><\/p>\n

Malcolm Marx<\/p>\n

Perhaps it was because the All Blacks\u2019 lineout was so poor, maybe it was because the best efforts of Codie Taylor and Asafo Aumua could not come close to matching his output. But when history remembers this series Malcolm Marx will make it into the intro.<\/p>\n

The Springboks<\/a> gave us a great storyline with their selection at hooker. Deon Fourie became the oldest ever Bok when picked to start the second Test at the age of 39 years 338 days.<\/p>\n

Out of Test rugby for three years, it was as though he had never been away. He then switched to the Bomb Squad in Soweto and the US and was influential enough to suggest he will make the World Cup in his 41st year.<\/p>\n

Yet Marx was the standout hooker, probably the standout player, across the piece. He brought the power that led to the glory. His work at the set-piece was matched by his work on the floor at the breakdown.<\/p>\n

The reigning World Rugby Player of the Year was a force of nature in Cape Town, the ABs had simply no answer. Ditto, at Soccer City, where his decisive try, scored from a 20-metre maul and celebrated with punches to the turf \u00e0 la Sean Fitzpatrick in 1996, was emblematic of South Africa\u2019s physical superiority.<\/p>\n

Rating every Springboks forward in Rugby\u2019s Greatest Rivalry: \u2018Most valuable prop in Test rugby\u2019 shows his worth but Rassie Erasmus \u2018worryingly light\u2019 in one area<\/a><\/p>\n

The RGR series concept<\/p>\n

When the blazers from South Africa and New Zealand came up with the idea of a Rugby\u2019s Greatest Rivalry tour<\/a> it went down like a cup of cold sick in some quarters.<\/p>\n

First there was the perceived arrogance piece. Who are they to claim that title? We all have our own idea of the sport\u2019s greatest rivalry and there are many who would argue, for historical not-always-rugby reasons, it is England against whoever they are playing.<\/p>\n

Then there was the fact that staging this eight-match tour meant canning the Rugby Championship a year after the southern hemisphere\u2019s version of the Six Nations had delivered its most compelling edition.<\/p>\n

Argentina legend Agust\u00edn Pichot branded South Africa and New Zealand \u201cselfish\u201d and found no disagreement from Australia great George Gregan who said: \u201cCan you imagine the Six Nations being postponed a year because England decide they want to play France instead?\u201d<\/p>\n

Without the Rugby Championship the Wallabies have followed home losses to France and Ireland with unconvincing series wins over the Pumas and Japan. Argentina have played six times and won only once. It is hard to make a case that either nation has benefited from a year without tournament footie.<\/p>\n

And yet Rugby\u2019s Greatest Rivalry, whether or not you like the title or the fact it has sown division among traditional southern hemisphere rivals, has been a colossal success \u2013 arguably, greater than anyone expected.<\/p>\n

Listen to Sean Fitzpatrick on the subject. \u201cA lot of people are saying it\u2019s not fair on Australia, it\u2019s not fair on Argentina,\u201d New Zealand\u2019s legendary captain told Planet Rugby. \u201cBut, honestly, the time has come where we need to create meaningful tours and meaningful games.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs much as it\u2019s Argentina thinking \u2018we\u2019ve been left out\u2019, it\u2019s a case of saying we have to do this, in terms of engaging fans. The fan engagement (due to RGR) is just off the charts. To make our game sustainable going forward we need this engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n

The All Blacks<\/p>\n

Hang on, this is the winners\u2019 category and New Zealand were losers in a two-horse race. They blew a one-nil lead despite outscoring their hosts 17-14 in tries across the four Tests.<\/p>\n

All of that is true, as is the fact that as tight as the scorelines were, South Africa were actually emphatic winners. No-one has been citing \u2018ifs or buts\u2019 this week, the Boks were good value for their 3-1 margin of triumph. If anything, they found extra gears the longer the tour went.<\/p>\n

Yet, consider this. The All Blacks are a young team in terms of growth under a new coach. They were away from home for two months and obliged to play eight games to the Springboks\u2019 four.<\/p>\n

They suffered key injuries in Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson, Quinn Tupaea and Cortez Ratima yet rediscovered their playing identity, scoring just 10 points fewer across the Test series.<\/p>\n

A year out from the World Cup the amount of learning done in August and September suggests they will be a mighty foe in Australia.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to take a lot from this,\u201d Jordie Barrett warned in Baltimore. \u201cWe are loving the environment Renn\u2019s<\/a> [Rennie] has created.\u201d<\/p>\n

With South Africa and New Zealand set to meet in the World Cup quarter-finals the question is which team has the greater potential for growth between now and then.<\/p>\n

Erasmus will delight in folk telling him his Boks are near their ceiling. If we have learned anything from this series it is not to fall into that trap. Still, it is hard to imagine the ABs, armed with this experience, not improving considerably between now and next September.<\/p>\n

Rating every All Blacks forward from Rugby\u2019s Greatest Rivalry: Ardie Savea leads the way but scrum exposed as prop suffers \u2018terrible tour\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

Damian de Allende<\/p>\n

It is tempting to include Ardie Savea as one of our five \u2018winners\u2019, such was the New Zealand captain\u2019s impact on the series. Huge in the All Blacks\u2019 downing of the Boks at Ellis Park, he then scored three tries in Tests two and three.<\/p>\n

When he went off injured in Soweto, the tourists led by seven points and were 49 minutes from a series win. In a losing cause, the skipper\u2019s reputation was only enhanced.<\/p>\n

Yet in a series in which he earned his 100th cap, Damian de Allende gets the nod over Savea. Shrugging off the disappointment of defeat on his big day he bounced back with an extraordinary display of power.<\/p>\n

He combined with centre partner Jesse Kriel to blow the ABs away in the first quarter in Cape Town and scored the try that set them on their way in Baltimore.<\/p>\n

An ever-present throughout all 320 minutes of the series, perhaps his greatest achievement was to contain Jordie Barrett after his opposite number bossed the opening Test. It did not get the headlines but it was decisive in the outcome.<\/p>\n

State of the Nation: \u2018Aesthetically pleasing\u2019 All Blacks find their \u2018identity\u2019 under Dave Rennie but are they really better?<\/a><\/p>\n

LOSERS<\/p>\n

Leroy Carter<\/p>\n

Such an exciting player with ball in hand, but Leroy Carter\u2019s contribution will be remembered for his two defensive mistakes in Soweto which swung the series South Africa\u2019s way.<\/p>\n

Carter scored three tries in wins over the Stormers and Bulls and when given his chance in the Test series used his speed to bag a try in Cape Town. But with the series tied at one-apiece it all went wrong.<\/p>\n

The 27-year-old had no answer to the strength of Damian de Allende who beat him one-on-one to make a first-half try for Kurt-Lee Arendse. He was then again outmuscled by Jesse Kriel for a score which proved decisive.<\/p>\n

Rugby\u2019s credibility as a professional sport<\/p>\n

The fourth and final Test of a compelling series had spectators around the world tuning in, with South Africa ahead but New Zealand a win from sharing the spoils.<\/p>\n

It was an occasion custom-built for the sport to parade its qualities, one versus two in a fixture perfect for attracting new fans, not only in the United States but globally.<\/p>\n

The players kept up their end of the bargain but off-field organisers had a shocker. Midway through the first half at M&T Bank Stadium play was halted due to a failure of the officials\u2019 communication system.<\/p>\n

For 15 minutes, late at night in the UK, Europe and South Africa, the action stopped while organisers talked among themselves as to how best to rectify the situation.<\/p>\n

Finally, it was decided the game should continue without voices in the referees\u2019 ear. But so long did it take to come to that decision that rugby laid itself open to ridicule \u2013 and got it with both barrels from Steve Hansen.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t we have protocols,\u201d raged the ex-All Blacks boss. \u201cDid we think we\u2019d never have a breakdown in communication? It should just be automatic. We\u2019ve got no comms, so we just play on, and guess what? I\u2019ll ref. And if I make a mistake, well, that\u2019ll be it. I make a mistake. If you see some foul play, stick your flag out. I mean, how ludicrous are we?<\/p>\n

\u201cWe look stupid. We really do. We look ridiculous. We played the game for 100 years the other way, and now we suddenly can\u2019t do it. It ruined the big moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu<\/p>\n

Sacha is the biggest emerging talent in world rugby, the most exciting player in the game. A jewel in the Springbok crown every coach in rugby would give his right arm for.<\/p>\n

Yet by his sky-high standards this series was a disappointment. It came too early for him after injury. Turned over five times at Ellis Park, he was dropped and recalled only when his replacement went lame in training.<\/p>\n

He never stopped trying, never let his head drop. Only the magic was not there. He tried perhaps too hard. Rassie Erasmus moved him to 15, even subbed him off in Baltimore. What he did not do was give up on the 24-year-old. Expect that faith to be repaid in spades over the coming months.<\/p>\n

Rating every Springboks back in Rugby\u2019s Greatest Rivalry: One \u2018super overnight success\u2019 for Rassie Erasmus but \u2018plenty of critics\u2019 for player \u2018learning on the fly\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

The Rugby Championship<\/p>\n

Before Rugby\u2019s Greatest Rivalry there were no shortage of people outside of South Africa and New Zealand condemning the decision to bin the Rugby Championship to make way for the top two countries to play amongst themselves.<\/p>\n

There will be rather fewer now because the fare served up was magnificent. You did not need to be a fan of the Springboks or All Blacks to enjoy this series. It was a must-watch for even the neutral.<\/p>\n

The Rugby Championship will return next year but it now has quite an act to follow. It delivered in 2025, to be fair, and in World Cup year will be an important stepping stone for all four southern hemisphere teams.<\/p>\n

But the memory of this tour will last long. And rather than dreading 2030, when the decks are next cleared for this match-up to return in New Zealand, people will be counting the days.<\/p>\n

New Zealand\u2019s lack of leadership<\/p>\n

There was much to admire about Dave Rennie\u2019s All Blacks. Their derring-do with ball in hand, the brilliance of a tiki-taka, catch-pass game unrivalled in the sport.<\/p>\n

Will Jordan\u2019s finishing remains a thing of beauty, as does most of what Jordie Barrett does. Cam Roigard has confirmed himself as world-class, and the return of Richie Mo\u2019unga will put bums on seats wherever he plays.<\/p>\n

What the All Blacks lack, however, is leadership. Ardie Savea is as good as they come in that department. A leader by example to compare with the likes of Siya Kolisi and Martin Johnson. But when he is not there, as the ABs found when he was lost to injury in Soweto and absent in Baltimore, they look decidedly rudderless.<\/p>\n

Compare that with the Boks, who can turn to the experience of Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Jesse Kriel and Malcolm Marx. There is no comparison. With a year to the World Cup that is a major work-on for the men in black.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:\u00a0Opinion: Wallabies can topple \u2018vulnerable\u2019 Springboks and All Blacks must \u2018suck it up\u2019 instead of whinging<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Following the completion of the inaugural Rugby\u2019s Greatest Rivalry series, here are our winners and losers from the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":895099,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[567],"tags":[64,63,1379,818,1182,1736,44,760,85],"class_list":["post-895098","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-rugby","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-features","tag-home-page","tag-internationals","tag-new-zealand","tag-news","tag-rugby","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/895098","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=895098"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/895098\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/895099"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=895098"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=895098"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=895098"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}