We in South Africa love to boast, statistically, that the Springboks are the greatest World Cup team. Equally, there is no debate, only awe, that the All Blacks, in the Rugby Championship, are more extraordinary than mere great, writes Mark Keohane.
The Springboks with 4 World Cup golds, followed by the All Blacks with three, Wallabies with two and England with one, are the most decorated World Cup team.
But that happens every four years, when we in South Africa beat out chests, feel untouchable and just love everything that is Springboks.
In between, since the game turned professional in 1996, all that the World Cup four golds has done is mask just how awful we have been in our premier annual Test international competition, and how awesome the return has been for the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship, formerly the Tri Nations, that brings together the best Southern Hemisphere teams.
For those who follow, understand and/or appreciate the English Premier League, history will detail there are those who win the FA Cup, but there are those who win the league.
Simply put, the Springboks have edged the All Blacks in the FA Cup, but in the league it has been a very lonely place for the All Black atop the summit of Southern Hemisphere international rugby.
The Rugby Championship starts this weekend and for all the pub talk, office talk, breakfast talk and maybe even bedroom talk, here are the facts to support any opinions.
The Tri Nations. launched in 1996, involved the All Blacks, the Springboks and the Wallabies. The Rugby Championship, evolved to four teams in 2012, added Argentina. In 2020, because of Covid, the Springboks did not play in the competition and it has been recorded as a Tri-Nations result.
Our starting point is the combined tournament, between 1996 and 2023.
The title winners
The All Blacks have won 20 titles
The Springboks have won 4 titles
The Wallabies have won 4 titles
The wooden spoon for finishing last
11 – Springboks
9 – Pumas
6 – Wallabies
2 – All Blacks
Winning percentage
75% – All Blacks
43% – Springboks
41% – Wallabies
16% – Pumas
Test wins
100 – All Blacks
56 – Springboks
55 – Wallabies
9 – Pumas
Average score
30-19 – All Blacks
23-24 – Springboks
22-25 – Wallabies
18-32 – Pumas
In 28 title campaigns, the league table reads
476 points – All Blacks
286 points – Wallabies
284 points – Springboks
54 points – Pumas (who only started competing in 2012)
League bonus points
71- All Blacks
51 – Springboks
47 – Wallabies
12 – Pumas
Bledisloe Cup titles: All Black v Wallabies
All Blacks 23-5
Freedom Cup titles: All Blacks v Springboks
All Blacks 16-2
Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate: Springboks v Wallabies
Wallabies 13-7
Puma trophy
Pumas v Wallabies
Wallabies 13-1
*The All Blacks are the only team to score plus 4000 points and win 100 Tests.
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
Src: keo.co.za
