Springboks’ looooong wait for Freedom Cup goes on
The Freedom Cup – a trophy contested between the Springboks and All Blacks – was first up for grab in 2004 (the 10 year anniversary of South African democracy), in a one-off test that South Africa won. Since then, the Boks claimed the Freedom Cup back in 2009 when they beat their arch-rivals in Bloemfontein […]
The Freedom Cup – a trophy contested between the Springboks and All Blacks – was first up for grab in 2004 (the 10 year anniversary of South African democracy), in a one-off test that South Africa won.
Since then, the Boks claimed the Freedom Cup back in 2009 when they beat their arch-rivals in Bloemfontein (28-19), Durban (31-19) and Hamilton (32-29), but from 2010 it’s been the property of the All Blacks.
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Last year, ‘all’ the Springboks had to do was avoid defeat at Ellis Park in Johannesburg after picking a win in Nelspruit the week prior, but they ultimately fell to a 35-23 defeat, and the holders New Zealand therefore retained the trophy.
That hegemony continued last Saturday as the All Blacks emerged as convincing victors as the two fierce rivals met for the 104th time at the little-known Mount Smart Stadium.
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So, what have been the results in the 104 matches between the two nations to date? All in all, it doesn’t actually make for pretty reading for South Africa.
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NOT PRETTY READING FOR THE SPRINGBOKS BELOW:
All Blacks | Springboks | |
Played | 104 | 104 |
Won | 62 | 38 |
Lost | 38 | 62 |
Drawn | 4 | 4 |
Win % | 60% | 36.5% |
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TOP 10 IN THE LATEST WORLD RUGBY RANKINGS
Rank | Team | Points |
1 | Ireland | 91.82 |
2 | France | 90.47 |
3 | New Zealand | 90.32 |
4 | South Africa | 88.34 |
5 | Scotland | 82.77 |
6 | England | 82.12 |
7 | Argentina | 81.49 |
8 | Australia | 80.32 |
9 | Wales | 78.08 |
10 | Japan | 77.39 |
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