The Springboks will run onto Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday looking to end near 88-year drought at the venue.
Eden Park, New Zealand’s national stadium and the ‘home’ of rugby in the country, has been a fortress for the All Blacks for 31 years now.
They last lost at the venue against France in 1994 and are on a 50-Test unbeaten streak.
Worst record
No surprise then to learn that the Springboks boast a poor record at the ground.
In fact, it’s their worst record at any venue in the world where they have played at least 10 Tests.
The Springboks’ record at Eden Park reads: Played 10, won two, drawn one and lost seven for a win percentage of just 20%.
South Africa last tasted victory at the venue on 25 September 1937 when lock Phil Nel led his team to a 17-6 win.
This is what the Springbok starting XV that day looked like:
| Position | Player | Province | Age |
| 1 | Boy Louw | WP | 31 |
| 2 | Jan Lotz | Transvaal | 27 |
| 3 | Fanie Louw | Transvaal | 28 |
| 4 | Phil Nel | Natal | 35 |
| 5 | Mauritz van den Berg | WP | 28 |
| 6 | Ebbo Bastard | Natal | 25 |
| 7 | Lukas Strachan | Transvaal | 30 |
| 8 | Ferdie Bergh | Transvaal | 30 |
| 9 | Danie Craven | EP | 26 |
| 10 | Tony Harris | Transvaal | 21 |
| 11 | Freddy Turner | Transvaal | 23 |
| 12 | Louis Babrow | WP | 22 |
| 13 | Flappie Lochner | EP | 24 |
| 14 | Dai Williams | WP | 24 |
| 15 | Gerry Brand | WP | 30 |
The Springboks’ 17 points that day came via tries by Ferdie Bergh, Freddy Turner, Louis Babrow (2) and Dai Williams. Gerry Brand added a conversion.
The All Blacks replied with two penalties.
Under today’s scoring system, the final score would’ve been 27-6.
The Springbok starting XV had 108 Test caps between them heading into the match.
New Zealand’s Joseph King was the referee and a reported 55 000 fans turned up to watch live.
Fast forward nearly 88 years and the Springbok starting XV for Saturday boasts 939 Test caps – the fourth highest combined total in South African rugby history.
There are 434 caps in the backline, with 505 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 206 caps.
Kick-off on Saturday, 6 September is at 09:05 (SA time).
Springboks vs All Blacks Tests at Eden Park in Auckland
| Date | Result |
| 27 August 1921 | Won 9-5 |
| 25 September 1937 | Won 17-6 |
| 1 September 1956 | Lost 11-5 |
| 18 September 1965 | Lost 20-3 |
| 12 September 1981 | Lost 25-22 |
| 6 August 1994 | Draw 18-18 |
| 9 August 1997 | Lost 55-35 |
| 25 August 2001 | Lost 26-15 |
| 10 July 2010 | Lost 32-12 |
| 14 September 2013 | Lost 29-15 |
TEAMS
New Zealand
15 Will Jordan, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Fabian Holland, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Damian McKenzie
South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel (captain), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Ethan Hooker
Score prediction for the All Blacks vs Springboks clash at Eden Park on Saturday?
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