Tri Nations: What is the biggest rivalry?

Depends who you ask. Australians will say Australia vs. NZ. Young New Zealanders will say Australia v. NZ. Old New Zealanders will say South Africa v. NZ as will South Africans.

For my money, it's probably South Africa v. New Zealand, because that's the oldest genuine blood feud in Southern Hemisphere rugby. Australia v. New Zealand is one of the oldest fixtures in rugby, but Australia has generally been a pretty mediocre rugby team until the last 20 years.

 

New Zealand and South Africa have equally similar histories, more so because their bond through rugby has extended back to 1921.

Australia just simply weren't very good until the Ella brothers came around. They've lost to Tonga.

 

For a traditional NZ'er the rivalry would probably go:

1: British Lions
2: SA
3: Australia

As has been mentioned before, Australia were rubbish until the early 1980's.

Australia's top rivalry is NZ

SA's is also NZ

 

I'd say South Africa is ahead of the British Lions. The Lions are important, but they come so infrequently. Every 12 years. Even when the Lions toured every three years and didn't go to Australia seperately, it was still every five/six years.

 

I'd say that's pretty much a function of the Springboks being crap though. You get a Springbok team that's good for 4-5 years, it will swing back.

 

The Bledisloe Cup's been around since the early 30s. That becoming more important was a pretty big function of actually having it taken off your hands for the first time.

A few more games like today and Kiwis will not be happy. Die Bokke is rug.