Springboks vs Wallabies: A Look at 97 Tests of Rugby History
- The Springboks head to Perth with a strong overall record against Australia, but the numbers become far closer at the venue
- South Africa have dominated much of the recent rivalry, although the Wallabies have also produced a major upset
- The 98th meeting between the nations comes with plenty of history behind another Rugby Championship clash
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Source: Getty Images
The Springboks travel to Perth for a Test against the Wallabies on Sunday, with the two nations meeting for the 98th time in a rivalry that dates back decades.
South Africa hold the overall advantage in the head-to-head, with 53 victories against Australia to 41 defeats, plus three draws from 97 previous encounters. The Springboks have accumulated 1,975 points in those Tests against Australia's 1,732, and have crossed for 233 tries to their opponents' 180.
The most emphatic result in the series came in 1997, when South Africa beat Australia 61-22 in Pretoria, while the largest winning margin in the rivalry came in 2008, with a 53-8 result in Johannesburg.
Perth has always been a tight contest
The Test venue tells a different story. Across 10 previous meetings in Perth, both teams have won four times each, with two matches ending in draws.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
The most recent encounter there came on 17 August 2024, when South Africa won 30-12 at Optus Stadium. Marco van Staden and Aphelele Fassi crossed the line, while Malcolm Marx scored twice.
The Springboks have won five of their last six Tests against Australia since September 2022. Their only defeat in that run came in August 2025, when the Wallabies won 38-22 at Ellis Park.
Rassie Erasmus reshuffles the Springboks
Sunday's encounter will also feature several milestones for the Springboks. Rassie Erasmus has made 13 changes to the starting team that defeated New Zealand 43-28 in Baltimore.
Andre Esterhuizen will captain South Africa for the first time, becoming the 68th player to lead the Springboks. Eben Etzebeth will extend his record as the country's most-capped player to 147 Tests.
Jasper Wiese will earn his 50th Test cap after being named among the replacements, while Malcolm Marx is six appearances away from reaching 100 Test caps.
Erasmus said Australia would present a different challenge from New Zealand.
“Australia poses a completely different threat to New Zealand in the way they play, so we believe these combinations would be best suited for the challenge that we will face against them,” Erasmus said, according to SA Rugby.
The Springboks coach also acknowledged Australia's recent form, noting that the Wallabies have won four of their last five matches, with their other result being a draw against Argentina.
“They are a proud nation and will certainly want to continue building momentum,” Erasmus said. “They are going to throw everything at us.”
The Test kicks off at 11:45 South African time on Sunday and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
The Springboks arrive in Perth with the stronger overall record and recent form, but the venue itself has produced a remarkably even contest. Sunday's meeting will add another chapter to a rivalry now stretching across 98 Tests.
Source: Getty Images
Rassie Erasmus warns of Wallabies challenge
Briefly News previously reported that Rassie Erasmus had admitted that Australia remain a particularly difficult opponent for the Springboks ahead of Sunday's Perth Test.
The Springboks coach reflected on South Africa's dramatic 38-22 defeat at Ellis Park in 2025, when the Boks surrendered a 22-0 lead before the Wallabies scored 38 unanswered points.
Erasmus also discussed his long-standing relationship with Australian coach Les Kiss, who worked with the Springboks during Erasmus' playing career.
PAY ATTENTION: Stay informed and follow us on Google News!
Source: Briefly News
