RFC Verdict
New Zealand defeated South Africa by 17 points, 16–33.
| Winner | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Margin | 17 |
| Verified score | 16–33 |
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026
Full Time
🇿🇦
RSA
South Africa
16–33
🇳🇿
NZL
New Zealand
DateAugust 22, 2026
VenueEmirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, South Africa
Full Match Replay
RFC INTELLIGENCE ENGINE 2.0
DATA-BACKEDMatch Intelligence
Verified rugby data, translated into context.
Inside the Numbers
49 total points were scored.
New Zealand scored 67% of the match points.
The total was 12.2 points below the competition average of 61.2.
| Total points | 49 |
|---|---|
| Margin | 17 |
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
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
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
- 2026-10-28 22:03:15 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
- 2026-10-28 22:03:15 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
- 2026-10-28 22:03:15 UTC
Data used
| Combined Points | 367 |
|---|---|
| Meetings | 6 |
| Average | 61.2 |
RFC Match Centre
Full TimeMatch Details
DateAugust 22, 2026Match date
VenueEmirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, South AfricaMatch venue
StatusFull TimeFinal whistle
The officiating team
5 officialsMatch Officials
RefereeMatthew CarleyLead match official
Assistant Referee 1Karl Dickson
Assistant Referee 2Nika Amashukeli
TV Match OfficialMike Adamson
Foul Play Review Officer (FPRO)Eric Gauzins
South Africa
Starting XV
- –Rassie ErasmusHead Coach
- 1Ox NcheProp
- 2Malcolm MarxHooker
- 3Wilco LouwProp
- 4Eben EtzebethLock
- 5Ruan NortjeLock
- 6Paul de VilliersFlanker
- 7Pieter-Steph Du ToitFlanker
- 8Jasper WieseNumber 8
- 9Grant WilliamsScrum Half
- 10Sacha Feinberg-MngomezuluFly Half
- 11Kurt-Lee ArendseWing
- 12Damian de AllendeCentre
- 13Jesse KrielCentre
- 14Cheslin KolbeWing
- 15Damian WillemseFull Back
Replacements
- 16Jan-Hendrik WesselsReplacement
- 17Gerhard SteenekampReplacement
- 18Zach PorthenReplacement
- 19Cobus WieseReplacement
- 20Andre EsterhuizenReplacement
- 21Marco van StadenReplacement
- 22Cobus ReinachReplacement
- 23Manie LibbokReplacement
New Zealand
Starting XV
- –Dave RennieHead Coach
- 1Ethan de GrootProp
- 2Codie TaylorHooker
- 3Tyrel LomaxProp
- 4Josh LordLock
- 5Fabian HollandLock
- 6Tupou Vaa'iFlanker
- 7Luke JacobsonFlanker
- 8Ardie SaveaNumber 8
- 9Cam RoigardScrum Half
- 10Ruben LoveFly Half
- 11Josh MoorbyWing
- 12Jordie BarrettCentre
- 13Quinn TupaeaCentre
- 14Will JordanWing
- 15Damian McKenzieFull Back
Replacements
- 16Asafo AumuaReplacement
- 17George BowerReplacement
- 18Fletcher NewellReplacement
- 19Peter LakaiReplacement
- 20Simon ParkerReplacement
- 21Kyle PrestonReplacement
- 22Anton Lienert-BrownReplacement
- 23Leroy CarterReplacement
5′
◆
Penalty3–0
Cheslin KolbeSouth Africa9′
🏉
Try3–5
Will JordanNew Zealand10′
↔
Replacement On3–5
Andre EsterhuizenSouth Africa10′
↔
Replacement Off3–5
Kurt-Lee ArendseSouth Africa14′
🏉
Try8–5
Andre EsterhuizenSouth Africa14′
◆
Conversion10–5
Cheslin KolbeSouth Africa23′
🏉
Try10–10
Josh MoorbyNew Zealand24′
◆
Conversion10–12
Ruben LoveNew Zealand27′
◆
Penalty13–12
Cheslin KolbeSouth Africa38′
↔
Replacement On13–12
George BowerNew Zealand38′
↔
Replacement Off13–12
Ethan de GrootNew Zealand38′
↔
Replacement On13–12
Simon ParkerNew Zealand38′
↔
Replacement Off13–12
Josh LordNew Zealand41′
●
Change Match Status13–12
South Africa46′
↔
Replacement On13–12
Gerhard SteenekampSouth Africa46′
↔
Replacement Off13–12
Ox NcheSouth Africa47′
◆
Penalty16–12
Cheslin KolbeSouth Africa48′
🏉
Try16–17
Fabian HollandNew Zealand49′
◆
Conversion16–19
Ruben LoveNew Zealand51′
↔
Replacement On16–19
Fletcher NewellNew Zealand51′
↔
Replacement Off16–19
Tyrel LomaxNew Zealand55′
↔
Replacement On16–19
Asafo AumuaNew Zealand55′
↔
Replacement Off16–19
Codie TaylorNew Zealand59′
↔
Replacement On16–19
Cobus ReinachSouth Africa59′
↔
Replacement Off16–19
Cheslin KolbeSouth Africa59′
🏉
Try16–24
Luke JacobsonNew Zealand60′
◆
Conversion16–26
Ruben LoveNew Zealand61′
↔
Replacement On16–26
Zach PorthenSouth Africa61′
↔
Replacement Off16–26
Wilco LouwSouth Africa62′
↔
Replacement On16–26
Marco van StadenSouth Africa62′
↔
Replacement Off16–26
Paul de VilliersSouth Africa63′
↔
Replacement On16–26
Manie LibbokSouth Africa63′
↔
Replacement Off16–26
Andre EsterhuizenSouth Africa64′
↔
Replacement On16–26
Leroy CarterNew Zealand64′
↔
Replacement Off16–26
Josh MoorbyNew Zealand67′
↔
Replacement On16–26
Jan-Hendrik WesselsSouth Africa67′
↔
Replacement Off16–26
Gerhard SteenekampSouth Africa69′
🟨
Yellow Card16–26
Marco van StadenSouth Africa71′
🟨
Yellow Card16–26
Cobus ReinachSouth Africa74′
↔
Replacement On16–26
Cobus WieseSouth Africa74′
↔
Replacement Off16–26
Eben EtzebethSouth Africa75′
🏉
Try16–31
Will JordanNew Zealand76′
◆
Conversion16–33
Ruben LoveNew Zealand76′
↔
Replacement On16–33
Peter LakaiNew Zealand76′
↔
Replacement Off16–33
Luke JacobsonNew Zealand76′
↔
Replacement On16–33
Anton Lienert-BrownNew Zealand76′
↔
Replacement Off16–33
Quinn TupaeaNew Zealand76′
↔
Replacement On16–33
Kyle PrestonNew Zealand76′
↔
Replacement Off16–33
Cam RoigardNew Zealand81′
●
Change Match Status16–33
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
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 ZealandCommunity
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South Africa vs New Zealand · 2026-08-21 · Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026