RFC Verdict
South Africa defeated New Zealand by 5 points, 29–24.
| Winner | South Africa |
|---|---|
| Margin | 5 |
| Verified score | 29–24 |
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026
Full Time
🇿🇦
RSA
South Africa
29–24
🇳🇿
NZL
New Zealand
DateSeptember 5, 2026
VenueFNB Stadium, Soweto, South Africa
RFC INTELLIGENCE ENGINE 2.0
DATA-BACKEDMatch Intelligence
Verified rugby data, translated into context.
Inside the Numbers
53 total points were scored.
South Africa scored 55% of the match points.
The total was 8.2 points below the competition average of 61.2.
| Total points | 53 |
|---|---|
| Margin | 5 |
Form Guide
South Africa: W W W L
New Zealand: L L L W W
| Window | Latest five completed matches in this competition |
|---|---|
| Key | W win, D draw, L loss |
Trends
New Zealand is averaging 15.3 fewer points per match over its latest three compared with the previous three.
| Method | Latest three matches compared with the preceding three |
|---|
Records & Milestones
This matched the closest recorded finish between these teams.
RFC currently has 6 completed meetings between these teams available in this dataset.
| Recorded meetings | 6 |
|---|---|
| Scope | All synchronized RFC competitions |
Key Battle
New Zealand’s attack (36.8 points per match) against South Africa’s defence (27.8 conceded per match) is the clearest data-backed matchup.
| South Africa points for | 30.3 |
|---|---|
| South Africa points against | 27.8 |
| New Zealand points for | 36.8 |
| New Zealand points against | 24.5 |
What This Means
South Africa is now 3-0-1 in this competition and on a 3-match winning run.
New Zealand is now 5-0-3 in this competition and on a 3-match losing run.
| Scope | Current competition record after this result |
|---|
RFC Match Insight
This is the closest meeting between these teams currently available in this dataset.
- Definition
- Closest meeting
- Source
- RFC verified match data and calculations
- Scope
- Match: South Africa vs New Zealand
- Method
- Identifies whether the current result matches the smallest recorded margin.
- Confidence
- Deterministic
- Calculated
- 2026-09-21 12:03:44 UTC
Data used
| Current Margin | 5 |
|---|---|
| Smallest Recorded Margin | 5 |
| Meetings | 6 |
South Africa has won the last 2 recorded meetings.
- Definition
- Head-to-head streak
- Source
- RFC verified match data and calculations
- Scope
- Match: South Africa vs New Zealand
- Method
- Counts consecutive wins by the current series leader.
- Confidence
- Deterministic
- Calculated
- 2026-09-21 12:03:44 UTC
Data used
| Team | South Africa |
|---|---|
| Consecutive Wins | 2 |
RFC currently has 6 completed meetings between South Africa and New Zealand available in this dataset.
- Definition
- Recorded meetings
- Source
- RFC verified match data and calculations
- Scope
- Match: South Africa vs New Zealand
- Method
- Counts completed meetings between two teams.
- Confidence
- Deterministic
- Calculated
- 2026-09-21 12:03:44 UTC
Data used
| Meetings | 6 |
|---|---|
| Home Team | South Africa |
| Away Team | New Zealand |
Their recorded meetings average 61.2 combined points.
- Definition
- Meeting scoring average
- Source
- RFC verified match data and calculations
- Scope
- Match: South Africa vs New Zealand
- Method
- Calculates average combined points across recorded meetings.
- Confidence
- Deterministic
- Calculated
- 2026-09-21 12:03:44 UTC
Data used
| Combined Points | 367 |
|---|---|
| Meetings | 6 |
| Average | 61.2 |
RFC Match Centre
Full TimeMatch Details
DateSeptember 5, 2026Match date
VenueFNB Stadium, Soweto, South AfricaMatch venue
StatusFull TimeFinal whistle
The officiating team
5 officialsMatch Officials
RefereeNika AmashukeliLead match official
Assistant Referee 1Angus Gardner
Assistant Referee 2Christophe Ridley
TV Match OfficialEric Gauzins
Foul Play Review Officer (FPRO)Brett Cronan
South Africa
Starting XV
- –Rassie ErasmusHead Coach
- 1Ox NcheProp
- 2Malcolm MarxHooker
- 3Wilco LouwProp
- 4Eben EtzebethLock
- 5Ruan NortjeLock
- 6Siya KolisiFlanker
- 7Pieter-Steph Du ToitFlanker
- 8Jasper WieseNumber 8
- 9Cobus ReinachScrum Half
- 10Sacha Feinberg-MngomezuluFly Half
- 11Ethan HookerWing
- 12Damian de AllendeCentre
- 13Jesse KrielCentre
- 14Kurt-Lee ArendseWing
- 15Cheslin KolbeFull Back
Replacements
- 16Deon FourieReplacement
- 17Gerhard SteenekampReplacement
- 18Thomas Du ToitReplacement
- 19Lodewyk De JagerReplacement
- 20Andre EsterhuizenReplacement
- 21Cameron HanekomReplacement
- 22Morne van den BergReplacement
- 23Manie LibbokReplacement
New Zealand
Starting XV
- –Dave RennieHead Coach
- 1George BowerProp
- 2Asafo AumuaHooker
- 3Tyrel LomaxProp
- 4Tupou Vaa'iLock
- 5Sam DarryLock
- 6Peter LakaiFlanker
- 7Luke JacobsonFlanker
- 8Ardie SaveaNumber 8
- 9Cam RoigardScrum Half
- 10Ruben LoveFly Half
- 11Leroy CarterWing
- 12Jordie BarrettCentre
- 13Quinn TupaeaCentre
- 14Will JordanWing
- 15Damian McKenzieFull Back
Replacements
- 16Samisoni Taukei'ahoReplacement
- 17Xavier NumiaReplacement
- 18Fletcher NewellReplacement
- 19Fabian HollandReplacement
- 20Wallace SititiReplacement
- 21Kyle PrestonReplacement
- 22Anton Lienert-BrownReplacement
- 23Josh MoorbyReplacement
9′
🟨
Yellow Card0–0
Sacha Feinberg-MngomezuluSouth Africa10′
↔
Replacement On0–0
Manie LibbokSouth Africa10′
↔
Replacement Off0–0
Cheslin KolbeSouth Africa11′
🏉
Try0–5
Ardie SaveaNew Zealand12′
◆
Conversion0–7
Ruben LoveNew Zealand21′
🏉
Try5–7
Kurt-Lee ArendseSouth Africa26′
🏉
Try5–12
Ardie SaveaNew Zealand31′
↔
Replacement On5–12
Wallace SititiNew Zealand31′
↔
Replacement Off5–12
Ardie SaveaNew Zealand36′
🟨
Yellow Card5–12
Ruben LoveNew Zealand37′
◆
Penalty Try12–12
South Africa41′
●
Change Match Status12–12
South Africa44′
↔
Replacement On12–12
Morne van den BergSouth Africa44′
↔
Replacement Off12–12
Cobus ReinachSouth Africa44′
↔
Replacement On12–12
Anton Lienert-BrownNew Zealand44′
↔
Replacement Off12–12
Quinn TupaeaNew Zealand46′
↔
Replacement On12–12
Xavier NumiaNew Zealand46′
↔
Replacement Off12–12
George BowerNew Zealand46′
↔
Replacement On12–12
Fletcher NewellNew Zealand46′
↔
Replacement Off12–12
Tyrel LomaxNew Zealand51′
↔
Replacement On12–12
Thomas Du ToitSouth Africa51′
↔
Replacement Off12–12
Wilco LouwSouth Africa56′
🏉
Try12–17
Will JordanNew Zealand57′
↔
Replacement On12–17
Gerhard SteenekampSouth Africa57′
↔
Replacement Off12–17
Ox NcheSouth Africa57′
↔
Replacement On12–17
Deon FourieSouth Africa57′
↔
Replacement Off12–17
Siya KolisiSouth Africa57′
↔
Replacement On12–17
Lodewyk De JagerSouth Africa57′
↔
Replacement Off12–17
Eben EtzebethSouth Africa58′
🏉
Try17–17
Jesse KrielSouth Africa59′
◆
Conversion19–17
Sacha Feinberg-MngomezuluSouth Africa62′
↔
Replacement On19–17
Samisoni Taukei'ahoNew Zealand62′
↔
Replacement Off19–17
Asafo AumuaNew Zealand62′
↔
Replacement On19–17
Fabian HollandNew Zealand62′
↔
Replacement Off19–17
Sam DarryNew Zealand62′
↔
Replacement On19–17
Cameron HanekomSouth Africa62′
↔
Replacement Off19–17
Jasper WieseSouth Africa66′
🏉
Try24–17
Malcolm MarxSouth Africa67′
◆
Conversion26–17
Sacha Feinberg-MngomezuluSouth Africa67′
↔
Replacement On26–17
Kyle PrestonNew Zealand67′
↔
Replacement Off26–17
Cam RoigardNew Zealand68′
↔
Replacement On26–17
Josh MoorbyNew Zealand68′
↔
Replacement Off26–17
Leroy CarterNew Zealand68′
↔
Replacement On26–17
Andre EsterhuizenSouth Africa68′
↔
Replacement Off26–17
Malcolm MarxSouth Africa71′
◆
Penalty29–17
Sacha Feinberg-MngomezuluSouth Africa82′
🏉
Try29–22
Samisoni Taukei'ahoNew Zealand83′
◆
Conversion29–24
Damian McKenzieNew Zealand83′
●
Change Match Status29–24
South AfricaSouth AfricaAnimated Team ComparisonNew Zealand
OverviewTeam comparison
Points
0VS0
RSANZL
Tries
0VS0
RSANZL
Possession
0%
RSA0%
NZLTerritory
0%
RSA0%
NZLAttackTeam comparison
Carries
0VS0
RSANZL
Carry Metres
0VS0
RSANZL
Clean Breaks
0VS0
RSANZL
Defenders Beaten
0VS0
RSANZL
Offloads
0VS0
RSANZL
Passes
0VS0
RSANZL
Try Assists
0VS0
RSANZL
Rucks Beyond Gain Line
0%
RSA0%
NZLBreakdownTeam comparison
Ruck Success
0%
RSA0%
NZLRucks Won
0VS0
RSANZL
Rucks Total
0VS0
RSANZL
Rucks Under 3 Seconds
0VS0
RSANZL
Rucks 3–6 Seconds
0VS0
RSANZL
Rucks Over 6 Seconds
0VS0
RSANZL
Turnovers Won
0VS0
RSANZL
Set PieceTeam comparison
Scrum Success
0%
RSA0%
NZLScrums Won
0VS0
RSANZL
Scrums Total
0VS0
RSANZL
Lineout Success
0%
RSA0%
NZLLineouts Won
0VS0
RSANZL
Lineouts Lost
0VS0
RSANZL
Mauls Won
0VS0
RSANZL
Maul Metres
0VS0
RSANZL
KickingTeam comparison
Kicks From Hand
0VS0
RSANZL
Kick Metres
0VS0
RSANZL
Goal Kicking
0%
RSA0%
NZLConversions
0VS0
RSANZL
Successful Goal Kicks
0%
RSA0%
NZLKicks to Touch
0VS0
RSANZL
Kicks Retained
0VS0
RSANZL
DefenceTeam comparison
Tackles Made
0VS0
RSANZL
Missed Tackles
0VS0
RSANZL
Tackle Success
0%
RSA0%
NZLDominant Tackles
0VS0
RSANZL
Turnover Tackles
0VS0
RSANZL
DisciplineTeam comparison
Penalties Conceded
0VS0
RSANZL
Yellow Cards
0VS0
RSANZL
Free Kicks Conceded
0VS0
RSANZL
South Africa
PlayerMinPtsCarMetresTkls
New Zealand
PlayerMinPtsCarMetresTkls
Meetings currently recorded by RFC
6Meetings
3South Africa wins
0Draws
3New Zealand wins
Recent meetings
South AfricaSeptember 12, 2026 · Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026 · M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
43 – 28New ZealandSouth AfricaSeptember 5, 2026 · Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026 · FNB Stadium, Soweto, South Africa
29 – 24New ZealandSouth AfricaSeptember 5, 2026 · Women's Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026 · FNB Stadium, Soweto, South Africa
20 – 52New ZealandSouth AfricaAugust 29, 2026 · Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026 · DHL Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa
33 – 26New ZealandSouth AfricaAugust 22, 2026 · Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026 · Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, South Africa
16 – 33New Zealand