Is this the most significant rugby match on South African soil for 31 years?
Back in 1995, the Springboks edged the All Blacks in extra time to win the World Cup for the first time. Nelson Mandela handed Francois Pienaar the Webb Ellis Cup. A country united. Clint Eastwood made a film about it.
The Boks have won three World Cups between then and now, but all have been on foreign land. And though there’ve been two British & Irish Lions tours in that time, there is a case to be made that this third Test of the self aggrandising Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour perhaps edges those meetings with the men from the Home Nations.
Because, let’s be frank, it’a New Zealand. It’s the All Blacks. It’s the Haka. It’s Jonah Lomu and the flour bombs in Auckland in 1981. It’s Sean Fitzpatrick thumping the ground in 1996 after a series win and it’s Ardie Savea’s face when Sam Cane copped a red card in 2023.
This is rugby’s greatest rivalry between the two best teams. And though there is officially a money-making fourth Test in Baltimore next week, this feels like the one that really matters. Whoever leaves South Africa with a 2-1 score in their favour will at least claim the moral victory whatever happens in the US.
Teams and further updates to come.
Kick-off at 5:10pm in Soweto, 4:10pm BST.
Sing out with any thoughts. I’d love to hear them via email.