All Blacks vs South Africa in 2026 ended in a landmark result for the Springboks. New Zealand opened the four-test tour with a commanding 33–16 win at Ellis Park, snapping a 12-test South African winning run, but the Springboks hit back in Cape Town (33–26), Soweto (29–24) and Baltimore (43–28) to take the series 3–1. It was South Africa’s first series win over the All Blacks since 1976.
This page runs through the 2026 tour result by result, how the historic fourth test in Baltimore was won, what the Freedom Cup is and who holds it, and the head-to-head record that stretches back to 1921.
Key points
- South Africa won the 2026 four-test series 3–1 — their first series win over the All Blacks since 1976.
- New Zealand won the opening test 33–16 at Ellis Park; South Africa then won in Cape Town (33–26), Soweto (29–24) and Baltimore (43–28).
- The fourth test in Baltimore was the first meeting between the two countries in the United States, in front of a record North American rugby crowd of 68,173.
- The all-time record now reads 114 tests: New Zealand 64 wins, South Africa 46 and four draws.
- The Freedom Cup was not on the line in 2026; South Africa still hold it and it is next contested in the 2027 Rugby Championship.
- New Zealand beat Australia 50–19 at Eden Park on 10 October to retain the Bledisloe Cup, with the Sydney test on 17 October.
All Blacks vs South Africa 2026: every tour result
The 2026 trip was the All Blacks’ first multi-match tour of South Africa since 1996: four tests against the Springboks plus four games against South Africa’s leading provincial sides. New Zealand won all four provincial games before the test series turned against them.
| Date | Match | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 7 Aug | Stormers v All Blacks | All Blacks 38–21 | Cape Town |
| Tue 11 Aug | Sharks v All Blacks | All Blacks 54–0 | Durban |
| Sat 15 Aug | Bulls v All Blacks | All Blacks 50–19 | Pretoria |
| Sat 22 Aug | First test | All Blacks 33–16 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
| Tue 25 Aug | Lions v All Blacks | All Blacks 41–35 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
| Sat 29 Aug | Second test | South Africa 33–26 | Cape Town |
| Sat 5 Sep | Third test | South Africa 29–24 | FNB Stadium, Soweto |
| Sat 12 Sep | Fourth test | South Africa 43–28 | M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore |
The first test turned in the second half. South Africa led 13–12 at the break, but a South African side reduced to 13 players by two quick yellow cards was then overrun. New Zealand finished with five tries, two from Will Jordan and one each from Josh Moorby, Fabian Holland and Luke Jacobson, to win 33–16.
South Africa levelled the series in Cape Town and went ahead in Soweto in the closest game of the four. In the third test the Springboks scored tries through Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel and Malcolm Marx and were awarded a penalty try, while Ardie Savea scored twice for New Zealand, with Jordan and Samisoni Taukei’aho also crossing. That 29–24 win put South Africa 2–1 up and meant the series could not be lost before the teams flew to the United States.
The Baltimore test: how South Africa sealed the series
The fourth test was the first meeting between the two countries in the United States, played at M&T Bank Stadium in front of 68,173 spectators — the largest crowd ever to watch a rugby match in North America. Kick-off was 5pm on Saturday 12 September in Baltimore, which was 9am on Sunday 13 September in New Zealand.
Codie Taylor scored in the ninth minute for his 24th test try, the most by an All Blacks hooker, and Damian de Allende and Morne van den Berg replied before the break. A 32-phase build-up ended with Will Jordan scoring beside the posts to leave New Zealand 17–14 down at half-time.
South Africa then scored twice in three minutes early in the second half, through Malcolm Marx from a lineout maul and Pieter-Steph du Toit after a break by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, to open a 15-point lead. Richie Mo’unga’s penalty and a try to Ethan Blackadder brought New Zealand back, but Kurt-Lee Arendse and replacement Cameron Hanekom settled it before Beauden Barrett scored in the last minute.
| South Africa 43 | New Zealand 28 |
|---|---|
| Tries: Damian de Allende, Morne van den Berg, Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cameron Hanekom | Tries: Codie Taylor, Will Jordan, Ethan Blackadder, Beauden Barrett |
| Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 2, Manie Libbok 2, van den Berg 1 | Conversions: Damian McKenzie 4 |
| Penalties: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 1 | Penalties: none |
As series winners, South Africa take the new Rivalry Trophy, made in two magnetic halves — one with Māori art by Kereama Taepa and one with art by Bonolo Chepape. Had the series finished 2–2 there was no tiebreaker, and each country would have kept one half.
All Blacks vs Springboks head-to-head record
Before the first test of the 2026 tour, the All Blacks led the all-time series 63 wins to 43, with four draws, from 110 tests. After the four tests of 2026 the record stands at 64 New Zealand wins, 46 South African wins and four draws from 114 tests.
Quick facts
| Series result | South Africa 3–1 |
|---|---|
| First test | New Zealand 33–16 (Ellis Park, 22 Aug 2026) |
| Fourth test | South Africa 43–28 (M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, 12 Sep 2026) |
| Record crowd | 68,173 — largest rugby crowd in North America |
| All-time record | 114 tests: NZ 64, SA 46, 4 draws |
| Freedom Cup holder | South Africa (next contested 2027) |
| Significance | South Africa’s first series win over NZ since 1976 |
| Record | Figure |
|---|---|
| Tests played | 114 |
| New Zealand wins | 64 |
| South Africa wins | 46 |
| Draws | 4 |
| Biggest New Zealand win | 57–0 (Albany, 2017) |
| Biggest South Africa win | 43–10 (Wellington, 2025) |
The rivalry began with South Africa’s first tour of New Zealand in 1921, when the three-test series finished one win each with a draw. South Africa’s 43–10 win in Wellington in September 2025 remains the heaviest defeat in All Blacks history, ahead of the 35–7 loss to the Springboks at Twickenham in 2023.
The Freedom Cup explained
The Freedom Cup was first contested on 14 August 2004, when South Africa won 40–26 at Ellis Park. It was created to mark ten years of democracy in South Africa. It is usually decided over the tests the teams play in the Rugby Championship, and if a series is drawn the holder keeps it.
South Africa hold it. They won it back on 7 September 2024 with an 18–12 win in Cape Town, ending a wait of almost 15 years, and kept it in 2025 when their 43–10 win in Wellington levelled that year’s series. The Freedom Cup was not on the line during the 2026 tour, which had its own trophy, so it will next be contested when the Rugby Championship returns in 2027.
| Year | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | South Africa 12–11 (World Cup final) | Saint-Denis |
| 2024 | South Africa 31–27 | Johannesburg |
| 2024 | South Africa 18–12 | Cape Town |
| 2025 | New Zealand 24–17 | Eden Park, Auckland |
| 2025 | South Africa 43–10 | Wellington |
The 2023 World Cup final was the tightest of those games, decided by a single point, and the 2025 pair showed how fast the fixture can swing: New Zealand won at Eden Park, then lost by 33 points in Wellington seven days later.
What comes after Baltimore
The All Blacks went straight into the Bledisloe Cup against Australia. They won the first test 50–19 at Eden Park on 10 October 2026 to retain the trophy for a 24th straight year and extend their unbeaten run at the ground to 54 matches, with the second test in Sydney on 17 October; our All Blacks vs Australia and Bledisloe Cup guide has the full picture. In November they play Scotland, Wales and England in the Nations Championship, including the Twickenham test covered on our All Blacks vs England page.
The next meetings with South Africa are expected in the 2027 Rugby Championship, which returns in an earlier July–August slot before the World Cup in Australia. For another long-running Rugby Championship fixture, see our All Blacks vs Argentina rivalry guide.
Following All Blacks v Springboks from New Zealand
Recent results show how quickly this fixture can turn: South Africa won four of the five tests between the 2023 World Cup final and the 2025 Wellington game, lost heavily at Ellis Park to open the 2026 tour, then won the next three. Past results are useful background, but they do not predict the next game, and no run of form changes the fixed probabilities built into any market.
If you follow the rivalry through betting markets, do so within the law. In New Zealand, online sports betting is legal only through TAB NZ, and you must be 18 or over. Our rugby betting guide explains test-match markets, and the TAB NZ overview covers deposit limits and time-outs.
Please read: This page is general sports information for readers aged 18 and over. It is not betting, financial or legal advice, and it does not encourage anyone to gamble. Since 28 June 2025, TAB NZ has been the only operator allowed to offer online racing and sports betting to people in New Zealand. If gambling is causing problems for you or someone close to you, free and confidential help is available 24/7 from the Gambling Helpline on 0800 654 655 or free text 8006. The Problem Gambling Foundation also offers free counselling.
Reference sources
- All Blacks — Match report: All Blacks v South Africa, fourth test
- All Blacks — Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry: All Blacks vs Springboks
- All Blacks — By the numbers: first test against South Africa
- Rugby.com.au — South Africa complete series victory with Baltimore win
- Baltimore Sun — Springboks defeat All Blacks 43-28 before record rugby crowd
- Sky Sports — South Africa 29-24 New Zealand: Springboks take 2-1 series lead in Soweto
- Ruck — Explained: what is the Freedom Cup?
- RugbyPass — All Blacks and Springboks agree to drawn series scenario
- Maryland Stadium Authority — Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry fourth test
- The Star — All Blacks retain Bledisloe Cup with 50-19 win over Australia
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Who won the 2026 All Blacks v Springboks series?
South Africa, 3–1. New Zealand won the first test 33–16, and South Africa won the second 33–26, the third 29–24 and the fourth 43–28. It was South Africa’s first series win over the All Blacks since 1976.
What was the score in the Baltimore test?
South Africa 43, New Zealand 28, at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday 12 September 2026. South Africa led 17–14 at half-time, and the crowd of 68,173 was the largest ever at a rugby match in North America.
Who holds the Freedom Cup?
South Africa. They won it back in September 2024 and kept it in 2025. It was not contested on the 2026 tour and is next due to be played for in the 2027 Rugby Championship.
What is the All Blacks’ record against South Africa?
After the fourth test of 2026, the teams have played 114 tests: New Zealand 64 wins, South Africa 46 and four draws.
Was the Baltimore test the first between the teams in the United States?
Yes. The test on 12 September 2026 was the first meeting between New Zealand and South Africa in the United States.
