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The torrid stats behind the Springboks decade-long draught in Australia
By Rugby365
South Africa will have to end a nearly decade-long drought if they are to keep their Rugby Championship dream alive.
Following the spectacular capitulation against New Zealand this past weekend, the Springboks will attempt to win on Australian soil – where they have not tasted success since 2013.
With back-to-back games against the Wallabies in Adelaide (August 27) and Sydney a week later, the Boks face a hellacious challenge in rounds three and four of the SANZAAR championship.
Having squandered a home game, they now have to travel the more than 10,000 kilometres across the Indian Ocean to the Land Down Under.
The two countries have met 41 times on Australian soil, with the Wallabies winning 27 of those.
The Boks have recorded just one win Down Under in the last decade, a 38-12 rout in Brisbane in 2013.
There was also a 23-all draw in Perth in 2017.
In the last 20 years, South Africa managed just three wins in Australia – the 2013 win, 32-25 in Perth in 2009 and 22-19 in Perth in 2005.
The Wallabies and Springboks have never played in Adelaide before, but there have been 14 Tests in Sydney between the two countries.
Australia won eight of those and South Africa’s last win in this city dates back almost three decades – a 19-12 triumph in 1993 at the same Sydney Football Stadium they will play in next month.
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Latest Comments
A few comments. Firstly, I am a Bok fan and it's been a golden period for us. I hope my fellow Bok fans appreciate this time and know that it cannot last forever, so soak it all in!
The other thing to mention (and this is targeted at Welsh, English and even Aussie supporters who might be feeling somewhat dejected) is that it's easy to forget that just before Rassie Erasmus took over in 2018, the Boks were ranked 7th in the world and I had given up hope we'd ever be world beaters again.
Sport is a fickle thing and Rassie and his team have managed to get right whatever little things it takes to make a mediocre team great. I initially worried his methods might be short-lived (how many times can you raise a person's commitment by talking about his family and his love of his country as a motivator), but he seems to have found a way. After winning in 2019 on what was a very simple game plan, he has taken things up ever year - amazing work which has to be applauded! (Dankie Rassie! Ons wardeer wat jy vir die ondersteuners en die land doen!) (Google translate if you don't understand Afrikaans! 😁)
I don't think people outside South Africa fully comprehend the enormity of the impact seeing black and white, English, Afrikaans and Xhosa and all the other hues playing together does for the country's sense of unity. It's pure joy and happiness.
This autumn tour has been a bit frustrating in that the Boks have won, but never all that convincingly. On the one hand, I'd like to have seen more decisive victories, BUT what Rassie has done is expose a huge number of players to test rugby, whilst also diversifying the way the Boks play (Tony Brown's influence).
This change of both style and personnel has resulted in a lack of cohesion at times and we've lost some of the control, whereas had we been playing our more traditional style, that wouldn't happen. This is partially attributable to the fact that you cannot play Tony Brown's expansive game whilst also having 3 players available at every contact point to clear the defence off the ball. I have enjoyed seeing the Boks play a more exciting, less attritional game, which is a boring, albeit effective spectacle. So, I am happy to be patient, because the end justifies the means (and I trust Rassie!). Hopefully all these players we are blooding will give us incredible options for substitutions come next year's Rugby Championship and of course, the big prize in 2027.
Last point! The game of rugby has never been as exciting as it is now. Any of Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Argentina, Scotland, England & Australia can beat one another. South Africa may be ranked #1, but I wouldn't bet my house in them beating France or New Zealand, and we saw Argentina beating both South Africa and New Zealand this year! That's wonderful for the game and makes the victories we do get all the sweeter. Each win is 100% earned. Long may it last!
Sorry for the long post! 🏉🌍
Go to commentsWouldn’t mind seeing that grounding in slow mo there. Too much to ask?
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