The All Blacks from 2011 to 2019 or the Springboks from 2019 to 2026? Who is the greatest World Cup-winning team in the professional era of rugby?
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour, the All Blacks first tour to South Africa in 30 years, will become a reality in the first week of August.
The two nations have dominated the World Cup, with seven out of 10 titles. They hold the last four titles.
But the million dollar question is which of the these back-to-back world champion teams is the greatest in the professional era.
How have they stacked up in between World Cups while still World Cup holders?
All Blacks v Springboks
Richie McCaw’s All Blacks won the World Cup in 2011 and 2015. Siya Kolisi’s Springboks won the World Cup in 2019 and 2023.
Kolisi is still going in search of an unprecedented third successive World Cup title but McCaw bowed out after the 2015 World Cup final win against Australia at Twickenham.
Both were/are incredible eras for the most successful teams in the history of the World Cup (seven titles combined from 10 tournaments). But who, in the world of opinion, weighted against statistics, gets the gold, right now?
All Blacks v Springboks (back to back World Cup winners)
Statistically, these are the numbers
| Category |
New Zealand (2011–2019) |
South Africa (2019–2026) |
| Tests Played |
113 |
76 |
| Wins |
99 |
59 |
| Losses |
10 |
17 |
| Draws |
4 |
0 |
| Win % |
87.61% |
77.63% |
| Rugby World Cups |
2 |
2 |
| Rugby Championship titles |
7 |
2 |
| British & Irish Lions series won |
Drawn |
1 |
| World Rugby Player of the Year awards during era |
4 (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016) |
2 (2019, 2024) |
| World Rugby Coach of the Year awards |
3 (2012, 2013, 2016) |
2 (2019, 2024) |
| World Cup finals won |
2 |
2 |
| World Cup finals lost |
0 |
0 |
| World Cup knockout matches |
6 |
6 |
| World Cup knockout wins |
5 |
6 |
| Home Tests |
50 |
29 |
| Away Tests |
48 |
27 |
| Neutral Tests |
15 |
20 |
| Home win % |
92.0% |
82.8% |
| Away win % |
83.3% |
66.7% |
| Neutral win % |
86.7% |
75.0% |
| Record vs SANZAAR |
48W-5L-3D |
21W-10L |
| Record vs Six Nations |
36W-4L |
27W-6L |
| Record vs Tier 2 |
17W-0L |
12W-0L |
Overall Test record
| Category |
New Zealand 2011–2019 |
South Africa 2019–2026 |
| Tests |
113 |
76 |
| Won |
99 |
59 |
| Lost |
10 |
17 |
| Drawn |
4 |
0 |
| Win percentage |
87.61% |
77.63% |
| Loss percentage |
8.85% |
22.37% |
| Draw percentage |
3.54% |
0.00% |
| Tests per defeat |
11.30 |
4.47 |
| Wins per 10 Tests |
8.76 |
7.76 |
Major trophies won during the defined periods
| Trophy |
New Zealand 2011–2019 |
South Africa 2019–2026 |
| Rugby World Cups |
2 |
2 |
| Rugby Championship titles |
6 |
2 |
| British & Irish Lions series wins |
Drawn |
1 |
| Combined titles |
8 |
5 |
|
|
|
New Zealand’s six Rugby Championship titles in this period were 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
South Africa’s two titles in the defined period were 2024 and 2025.
South Africa won the 2021 Lions series 2–1. New Zealand’s 2017 Lions series finished drawn: one New Zealand win, one Lions win and one draw.
Rugby World Cup record
| Category |
New Zealand: 2011, 2015 and 2019 to semi-final |
South Africa: 2019 and 2023 |
| World Cup tournaments included |
3 |
2 |
| Matches played |
19 |
14 |
| Won |
18 |
12 |
| Lost |
1 |
2 |
| Drawn |
0 |
0 |
| Win percentage |
94.74% |
85.71% |
| World Cups won |
2 |
2 |
| Finals played |
2 |
2 |
| Finals won |
2 |
2 |
| Pool matches lost |
0 |
2 |
| Knockout matches played |
8 |
6 |
| Knockout matches won |
7 |
6 |
| Knockout matches lost |
1 |
0 |
| Knockout win percentage |
87.50% |
100.00% |
World Cup 2011-2023 All Blacks & Springboks
| Category |
New Zealand |
South Africa |
| World Cup matches |
19 |
14 |
| Points scored |
801 |
470 |
| Points conceded |
224 |
155 |
| Points difference |
+577 |
+315 |
| Average points scored per match |
42.16 |
33.57 |
| Average points conceded per match |
11.79 |
11.07 |
| Average points difference per match |
+30.37 |
+22.50 |
All Blacks & Springboks World Cup title campaigns 2011-2023
| Category |
New Zealand 2011 and 2015 |
South Africa 2019 and 2023 |
| Matches |
14 |
14 |
| Won |
14 |
12 |
| Lost |
0 |
2 |
| Win percentage |
100.00% |
85.71% |
| Points scored |
591 |
470 |
| Points conceded |
169 |
155 |
| Points difference |
+422 |
+315 |
| Average scored |
42.21 |
33.57 |
| Average conceded |
12.07 |
11.07 |
| Average points difference |
+30.14 |
+22.50 |
| Knockout matches |
6 |
6 |
| Knockout wins |
6 |
6 |
| Finals won |
2 |
2 |
2011-2023 World Cup knockout record
| Category |
New Zealand |
South Africa |
| Quarter-finals played |
3 |
2 |
| Quarter-finals won |
3 |
2 |
| Semi-finals played |
3 |
2 |
| Semi-finals won |
2 |
2 |
| Finals played |
2 |
2 |
| Finals won |
2 |
2 |
| Total knockout matches |
8 |
6 |
| Total knockout wins |
7 |
6 |
| Total knockout losses |
1 |
0 |
Rugby Championship titles by year
| Year |
Champion |
| 2012 |
New Zealand |
| 2013 |
New Zealand |
| 2014 |
New Zealand |
| 2015 |
Australia |
| 2016 |
New Zealand |
| 2017 |
New Zealand |
| 2018 |
New Zealand |
| 2019 |
South Africa |
| 2020 |
New Zealand |
| 2021 |
New Zealand |
| 2022 |
New Zealand |
| 2023 |
New Zealand |
| 2024 |
South Africa |
| 2025 |
South Africa |
Lions series record
| Category |
New Zealand 2017 |
South Africa 2021 |
| Tests |
3 |
3 |
| Won |
1 |
2 |
| Lost |
1 |
1 |
| Drawn |
1 |
0 |
| Test win percentage |
33.33% |
66.67% |
| Series result |
Drawn 1–1 |
Won 2–1 |
| Series victories |
0 |
1 |
Comparison
| Measurement |
New Zealand |
South Africa |
| Overall Test win percentage |
87.61% |
77.63% |
| Overall loss percentage |
8.85% |
22.37% |
| World Cup titles |
2 |
2 |
| Winning-campaign World Cup record |
14–0 |
12–2 |
| World Cup knockout record in full period |
7–1 |
6–0 |
| Rugby Championship titles in period |
6 |
2 |
| Lions series victories |
0 |
1 |
| Combined listed major trophies |
8 |
5 |
All Blacks 2011-2019 v Springboks 2019 v 2026 – Who won what?
| Category |
New Zealand (2011–2019) |
South Africa (2019–2026) |
| Tests |
113 |
76 |
| Win % |
87.6% |
77.6% |
| World Cups |
2 |
2 |
| Rugby Championships |
6 |
2 |
| Lions series |
0 |
1 |
World Cup final: All Blacks 2015 v Springboks 2023
| No. |
All Blacks – 2015 Rugby World Cup Final |
Springboks – 2023 Rugby World Cup Final |
| 1 |
Joe Moody |
Steven Kitshoff |
| 2 |
Dane Coles |
Bongi Mbonambi |
| 3 |
Owen Franks |
Frans Malherbe |
| 4 |
Brodie Retallick |
Eben Etzebeth |
| 5 |
Samuel Whitelock |
Franco Mostert |
| 6 |
Jerome Kaino |
Siya Kolisi (captain) |
| 7 |
Richie McCaw (captain) |
Pieter-Steph du Toit |
| 8 |
Kieran Read |
Duane Vermeulen |
| 9 |
Aaron Smith |
Faf de Klerk |
| 10 |
Daniel Carter |
Handré Pollard |
| 11 |
Julian Savea |
Cheslin Kolbe |
| 12 |
Ma’a Nonu |
Damian de Allende |
| 13 |
Conrad Smith |
Jesse Kriel |
| 14 |
Nehe Milner-Skudder |
Kurt-Lee Arendse |
| 15 |
Ben Smith |
Damian Willemse |
| 16 |
Keven Mealamu |
Deon Fourie |
| 18 |
Charlie Faumuina |
Trevor Nyakane |
| 19 |
Victor Vito |
Jean Kleyn |
| 21 |
Tawera Kerr-Barlow |
Kwagga Smith |
| 22 |
Beauden Barrett |
Jasper Wiese |
| 23 |
Sonny Bill Williams |
Willie le Roux |
2015 World Cup semi-final: All Blacks 20 Springboks 18
|
|
New Zealand |
South Africa |
| 1 |
Joe Moody |
Tendai Mtawarira |
| 2 |
Dane Coles |
Bismarck du Plessis |
| 3 |
Owen Franks |
Frans Malherbe |
| 4 |
Brodie Retallick |
Eben Etzebeth |
| 5 |
Samuel Whitelock |
Lood de Jager |
| 6 |
Jerome Kaino |
Francois Louw |
| 7 |
Richie McCaw (captain) |
Schalk Burger |
| 8 |
Kieran Read |
Duane Vermeulen |
| 9 |
Aaron Smith |
Fourie du Preez |
| 10 |
Daniel Carter |
Handré Pollard |
| 11 |
Julian Savea |
Bryan Habana |
| 12 |
Ma’a Nonu |
Damian de Allende |
| 13 |
Conrad Smith |
Jesse Kriel |
| 14 |
Nehe Milner-Skudder |
JP Pietersen |
| 15 |
Ben Smith |
Willie le Roux |
| 16 |
Keven Mealamu |
Adriaan Strauss |
| 17 |
Ben Franks |
Trevor Nyakane |
| 18 |
Charlie Faumuina |
Jannie du Plessis |
| 19 |
Victor Vito |
Victor Matfield |
| 20 |
Sam Cane |
Willem Alberts |
| 21 |
Tawera Kerr-Barlow |
Ruan Pienaar |
| 22 |
Beauden Barrett |
Patrick Lambie |
| 23 |
Sonny Bill Williams |
Jan Serfontein |
What the statistics support
- New Zealand were the more dominant week-to-week Test team.
- 99 wins from 113 Tests.
- 87.6% win rate.
- Six Rugby Championship titles.
- South Africa have matched New Zealand’s World Cup achievement.
- Two consecutive Rugby World Cups.
- An unbeaten knockout record across the two winning campaigns (6 from 6).
- A British & Irish Lions series victory.
A balanced historical conclusion
The statistics show two different expressions of greatness rather than providing definitive proof that one era eclipsed the other.
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