The Springboks have a so-so record at the home of English rugby, Twickenham in London.
Or should that now read, the Allianz Stadium … ?
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The Springboks have played 28 Tests at the stadium over the last 111 years, winning 15 and losing 13 for a win percentage of 53.6%.
However, only 23 of those Tests have been against England.
The other five came during the 1999 and 2015 Rugby World Cups, as well as one-off Tests against New Zealand (ahead of last year’s World Rugby) and earlier this year against Wales.
The Springboks’ record against England at Twickenham, reads: Played 23, won 12 and lost 11, for a win percentage of 52.2%.
How many of these Tests do you remember?
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| 4 January 1913 | England | Won 9-3 |
| 2 January 1932 | England | Won 7-0 |
| 5 January 1952 | England | Won 8-3 |
| 7 January 1961 | England | Won 5-0 |
| 20 December 1969 | England | Lost 11-8 |
| 14 November 1992 | England | Lost 33-16 |
| 18 November 1995 | England | Won 24-14 |
| 29 November 1997 | England | Won 29-11 |
| 5 December 1998 | England | Lost 13-7 |
| 30 October 1999 | Australia | Lost 27-21 |
| 2 December 2000 | England | Lost 25-17 |
| 24 November 2001 | England | Lost 29-9 |
| 23 November 2002 | England | Lost 53-3 |
| 20 November 2004 | England | Lost 32-16 |
| 18 November 2006 | England | Lost 23-21 |
| 25 November 2006 | England | Won 25-14 |
| 22 November 2008 | England | Won 42-6 |
| 27 November 2010 | England | Won 21-11 |
| 24 November 2012 | England | Won 16-15 |
| 15 November 2014 | England | Won 31-28 |
| 17 October 2015 | Wales | Won 23-19 |
| 24 October 2015 | New Zealand | Lost 20-18 |
| 12 November 2016 | England | Lost 37-21 |
| 3 November 2018 | England | Lost 12-11 |
| 20 November 2021 | England | Lost 27-26 |
| 26 November 2022 | England | Won 27-13 |
| 25 August 2023 | New Zealand | Won 35-7 |
| 22 June 2024 | Wales | Won 41-13 |
Meanwhile, the Springboks and their arch-rivals England have enjoyed a rich history when it comes to Tests over the years – dating back as far as 1906.
The first Test between the two countries took place at Crystal Palace in London on Saturday, 8 December 1906 – a little under 118 years ago.
The match ended in a 3-3 draw.
That fixture was the last on South Africa’s first official international tour.
It was also the tour in which the Springbok nickname was coined.
Earlier on that tour South Africa lost to Scotland (6-0) and defeated Ireland (15-12) and Wales (11-0).
Fast forward to Saturday, 16 November 2024 and the sides will do battle for the 47th time, this time at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham in London.
In the 46 Tests to date, the Springboks have won 28, lost 16 and there have been two draws.
The Springboks have scored a total of 988 points and have conceded 784 – for an average final score of 21-17.
Memorable final
Of the 46 Tests played to date, 24 have taken place in England, 16 in South Africa and six on ‘neutral’ ground.
The most famous of those ‘neutral’ matches was the encounter between the sides in the final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Yokohama, Japan.
The Springboks memorably won that match 32-12.
The Springboks hold a 12-11 win record (one draw) in matches held in England and lead 11-4 (one draw) in the Tests staged in Mzansi.
Rassie Erasmus’s men lead 5-1 in matches held on neutral ground.
Kick-off on Saturday is scheduled for 19:40 (SA time).
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