South Africa Looking to End Losing Streak

The Springboks will end the longest losing streak in their rugby history
if they beat the All Blacks in Saturday’s Tri-Nations rugby test at Jade Stadium,
Christchurch.

The last seven tests between rugby’s most successful international teams have
been won by New Zealand.

South Africa’s previous victory was a 46-40 win at Johannesburg in 2000, but
they haven’t tasted success on New Zealand soil since the 13-3 triumph at Athletic
Park in 1998, the only year they have won the Tri-Nations.

It was part of their 17 consecutive winning tests under coach Nick Mallett.

Since that season there has been little to cheer for South African rugby.

Their 9-29 humbling by the All Blacks in last year’s World Cup quarterfinal
at Melbourne meant their losing run eclipsed the six straight losses to Great
Britain more than 100 years ago.

South Africa held a 20-15 win-loss advantage over New Zealand before the apartheid
era ended.

Since their return to international rugby in 1992 they have won just six of
the teams’ 26 meetings.

Last year’s record 52-16 thrashing at Pretoria was a rare example of a one-sided
test between the two nations since 1992. The average score in that period has
been 26-18 to New Zealand.

The All Blacks’ overall record against the Boks has extended out to 34 wins
from 63 tests, with 26 losses and three draws. Since going past the Springboks
in 1999, New Zealand have held a positive win-loss record against all test nations.

New Zealand’s five wins this year gives them a 72.8 per cent winning record
against all opponents in their 386-test history while South Africa are second
on that world list with a 63.1 per cent record from 306 tests.

New Zealand:

Muliaina; Howlett, Umaga (capt), Carter, Rokocoko, Spencer, Marshall; Meeuws,
Mealamu, Somerville, Jack, Maling, Collins, Holah, Rush.

Replacements: Hore, Woodcock, Williams, Newby, Kelleher, Evans,
Tuitupou.

South Africa:

Montgomery, Paulse, Joubert, Barry, De Villiers, Van der Westhuyzen, Du Preez;
Du Randt, Smit (capt), Andrews, Botha, Van den Berg, Burger, Venter, Cronje.

Replacements: Russell, Du Toit, Conradie, Davids, Van Niekerk,
Rautenbach, Coetzee.

RECENT MEETINGS
2003: NZ 29-9 SA (WC)
2003: NZ 19-11 SA
2003: SA 16-52 NZ
2002: SA 23-30 NZ
2002: NZ 41-20 SA
2001: NZ 26-15 SA
2001: SA 3-12 NZ
2000: SA 46-40 NZ
2000: NZ 25-12 SA