RFC Verdict
New Zealand defeated Lions by 6 points, 35–41.
| Winner | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Margin | 6 |
| Verified score | 35–41 |
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026
Full Time
LIO
Lions
35–41
🇳🇿
NZL
New Zealand
DateAugust 25, 2026
VenueEmirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, South Africa
RFC INTELLIGENCE ENGINE 2.0
DATA-BACKEDMatch Intelligence
Verified rugby data, translated into context.
Inside the Numbers
76 total points were scored.
New Zealand scored 54% of the match points.
The total was 14.8 points above the competition average of 61.2.
| Total points | 76 |
|---|---|
| Margin | 6 |
Form Guide
Lions: 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 was the highest-scoring recorded meeting between these teams.
This matched the closest recorded finish between these teams.
| Recorded meetings | 1 |
|---|---|
| Scope | All synchronized RFC competitions |
Key Battle
New Zealand’s attack (36.8 points per match) against Lions’s defence (41.0 conceded per match) is the clearest data-backed matchup.
| Lions points for | 35 |
|---|---|
| Lions points against | 41 |
| New Zealand points for | 36.8 |
| New Zealand points against | 24.5 |
What This Means
Lions is now 0-0-1 in this competition.
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: Lions vs New Zealand
- Method
- Identifies whether the current result matches the smallest recorded margin.
- Confidence
- Deterministic
- Calculated
- 2026-09-21 14:50:39 UTC
Data used
| Current Margin | 6 |
|---|---|
| Smallest Recorded Margin | 6 |
| Meetings | 1 |
RFC currently has 1 completed meeting between Lions and New Zealand available in this dataset.
- Definition
- Recorded meetings
- Source
- RFC verified match data and calculations
- Scope
- Match: Lions vs New Zealand
- Method
- Counts completed meetings between two teams.
- Confidence
- Deterministic
- Calculated
- 2026-09-21 14:50:39 UTC
Data used
| Meetings | 1 |
|---|---|
| Home Team | Lions |
| Away Team | New Zealand |
Their recorded meetings average 76.0 combined points.
- Definition
- Meeting scoring average
- Source
- RFC verified match data and calculations
- Scope
- Match: Lions vs New Zealand
- Method
- Calculates average combined points across recorded meetings.
- Confidence
- Deterministic
- Calculated
- 2026-09-21 14:50:39 UTC
Data used
| Combined Points | 76 |
|---|---|
| Meetings | 1 |
| Average | 76 |
RFC Match Centre
Full TimeMatch Details
DateAugust 25, 2026Match date
VenueEmirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, South AfricaMatch venue
StatusFull TimeFinal whistle
The officiating team
5 officialsMatch Officials
RefereeAngus GardnerLead match official
Assistant Referee 1Karl Dickson
Assistant Referee 2Morne Ferreira
TV Match OfficialBrett Cronan
Foul Play Review Officer (FPRO)Eric Gauzins
Lions
Starting XV
- 1SJ KotzeProp
- 2PJ BothaHooker
- 3
- 4
- 5Ruan DelportLock
- 6Sibabalwe MahasheFlanker
- 7Bathobele HlekaniFlanker
- 8Francke HornNumber 8
- 9Nico SteynScrum Half
- 10Chris William SmithFly Half
- 11Erich CronjeWing
- 12Richard KrielCentre
- 13Henco van WykCentre
- 14Kelly MpekuWing
- 15Quan HornFull Back
Replacements
- 16Morne BrandonReplacement
- 17Boan VenterReplacement
- 18RF SchoemanReplacement
- 19Hyron AndrewsReplacement
- 20Sikhumbuzo NotsheReplacement
- 21JC PretoriusReplacement
- 22Hassiem PeadReplacement
- 23Boeta ChamberlainReplacement
New Zealand
Starting XV
- 1Siale LauakiProp
- 2Samisoni Taukei'ahoHooker
- 3Pasilio TosiProp
- 4Sam DarryLock
- 5
- 6Wallace SititiFlanker
- 7Ethan BlackadderFlanker
- 8Semisi Ta’eiloaNumber 8
- 9Noah HothamScrum Half
- 10Richie Mo'ungaFly Half
- 11Emoni NarawaWing
- 12Timoci TavatavanawaiCentre
- 13Rieko IoaneCentre
- 14
- 15Beauden BarrettFull Back
Replacements
- 16Bradley SlaterReplacement
- 17Xavier NumiaReplacement
- 18Saula Ma'uReplacement
- 19Jamie HannahReplacement
- 20Peter LakaiReplacement
- 21Kyle PrestonReplacement
- 22Josh JacombReplacement
- 23Anton Lienert-BrownReplacement
1′
●
Change Match Status0–0
Lions5′
🏉
Try5–0
Nico SteynLions6′
◆
Conversion7–0
Chris William SmithLions7′
🏉
Try12–0
Sibabalwe MahasheLions8′
◆
Conversion14–0
Chris William SmithLions11′
🏉
Try14–5
Noah HothamNew Zealand11′
◆
Conversion14–7
Beauden BarrettNew Zealand19′
↔
Replacement On14–7
Hyron AndrewsLions19′
↔
Replacement Off14–7
Etienne OosthuizenLions25′
🏉
Try14–12
Emoni NarawaNew Zealand33′
🏉
Try19–12
Kelly MpekuLions34′
◆
Conversion21–12
Chris William SmithLions36′
🏉
Try21–17
Ethan BlackadderNew Zealand39′
↔
Replacement On21–17
RF SchoemanLions39′
↔
Replacement Off21–17
Sebastian LombardLions41′
●
Change Match Status21–17
Lions41′
↔
Replacement On21–17
Sebastian LombardLions41′
↔
Replacement Off21–17
RF SchoemanLions41′
🏉
Try26–17
Erich CronjeLions42′
◆
Conversion28–17
Chris William SmithLions47′
🏉
Try33–17
Francke HornLions48′
◆
Conversion35–17
Chris William SmithLions49′
↔
Replacement On35–17
Jamie HannahNew Zealand49′
↔
Replacement Off35–17
Patrick TuipulotuNew Zealand50′
🏉
Try35–22
Rieko IoaneNew Zealand51′
◆
Conversion35–24
Richie Mo'ungaNew Zealand52′
↔
Replacement On35–24
Boan VenterLions52′
↔
Replacement Off35–24
SJ KotzeLions52′
↔
Replacement On35–24
Morne BrandonLions52′
↔
Replacement Off35–24
PJ BothaLions52′
↔
Replacement On35–24
RF SchoemanLions52′
↔
Replacement Off35–24
Sebastian LombardLions54′
↔
Replacement On35–24
Anton Lienert-BrownNew Zealand54′
↔
Replacement Off35–24
Fehi FineanganofoNew Zealand54′
↔
Replacement On35–24
Hassiem PeadLions54′
↔
Replacement Off35–24
Nico SteynLions55′
↔
Replacement On35–24
Peter LakaiNew Zealand55′
↔
Replacement Off35–24
Semisi Ta’eiloaNew Zealand55′
↔
Replacement On35–24
Kyle PrestonNew Zealand55′
↔
Replacement Off35–24
Noah HothamNew Zealand56′
🏉
Try35–29
Rieko IoaneNew Zealand57′
◆
Conversion35–31
Richie Mo'ungaNew Zealand61′
↔
Replacement On35–31
Saula Ma'uNew Zealand61′
↔
Replacement Off35–31
Pasilio TosiNew Zealand63′
🏉
Try35–36
Ethan BlackadderNew Zealand63′
↔
Replacement On35–36
Bradley SlaterNew Zealand63′
↔
Replacement Off35–36
Samisoni Taukei'ahoNew Zealand64′
↔
Replacement On35–36
JC PretoriusLions64′
↔
Replacement Off35–36
Bathobele HlekaniLions64′
↔
Replacement On35–36
Sikhumbuzo NotsheLions64′
↔
Replacement Off35–36
Francke HornLions65′
↔
Replacement On35–36
Josh JacombNew Zealand65′
↔
Replacement Off35–36
Timoci TavatavanawaiNew Zealand71′
↔
Replacement On35–36
Xavier NumiaNew Zealand71′
↔
Replacement Off35–36
Siale LauakiNew Zealand72′
↔
Replacement On35–36
Boeta ChamberlainLions72′
↔
Replacement Off35–36
Henco van WykLions80′
🏉
Try35–41
Emoni NarawaNew ZealandLionsAnimated Team ComparisonNew Zealand
OverviewTeam comparison
Points
0VS0
LIONZL
Tries
0VS0
LIONZL
Possession
0%
LIO0%
NZLTerritory
0%
LIO0%
NZLAttackTeam comparison
Carries
0VS0
LIONZL
Carry Metres
0VS0
LIONZL
Clean Breaks
0VS0
LIONZL
Defenders Beaten
0VS0
LIONZL
Offloads
0VS0
LIONZL
Passes
0VS0
LIONZL
Try Assists
0VS0
LIONZL
Rucks Beyond Gain Line
0%
LIO0%
NZLBreakdownTeam comparison
Ruck Success
0%
LIO0%
NZLRucks Won
0VS0
LIONZL
Rucks Total
0VS0
LIONZL
Rucks Under 3 Seconds
0VS0
LIONZL
Rucks 3–6 Seconds
0VS0
LIONZL
Rucks Over 6 Seconds
0VS0
LIONZL
Turnovers Won
0VS0
LIONZL
Set PieceTeam comparison
Scrum Success
0%
LIO0%
NZLScrums Won
0VS0
LIONZL
Scrums Total
0VS0
LIONZL
Lineout Success
0%
LIO0%
NZLLineouts Won
0VS0
LIONZL
Lineouts Lost
0VS0
LIONZL
Mauls Won
0VS0
LIONZL
Maul Metres
0VS0
LIONZL
KickingTeam comparison
Kicks From Hand
0VS0
LIONZL
Kick Metres
0VS0
LIONZL
Goal Kicking
0%
LIO0%
NZLConversions
0VS0
LIONZL
Successful Goal Kicks
0%
LIO0%
NZLKicks to Touch
0VS0
LIONZL
Kicks Retained
0VS0
LIONZL
DefenceTeam comparison
Tackles Made
0VS0
LIONZL
Missed Tackles
0VS0
LIONZL
Tackle Success
0%
LIO0%
NZLDominant Tackles
0VS0
LIONZL
Turnover Tackles
0VS0
LIONZL
DisciplineTeam comparison
Penalties Conceded
0VS0
LIONZL
Free Kicks Conceded
0VS0
LIONZL
Lions
PlayerMinPtsCarMetresTkls
New Zealand
PlayerMinPtsCarMetresTkls
Meetings currently recorded by RFC
1Meetings
0Lions wins
0Draws
1New Zealand wins
Recent meetings
LionsAugust 25, 2026 · Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026 · Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, South Africa
35 – 41New Zealand