Boks must go against history in Auckland

WINNING in New Zealand means going against the grain of history, which is what the Boks have to do this weekend to keep their Rugby Championship chances alive

The Springboks have always been competitive against New Zealand, but the cold truth is they have only won three Rugby Championship/Tri-Nations matches against New Zealand.

Those wins came in the period when the Boks were world champions.

There was the 13-3 win under Nick Mallett and Gary Teichmann’s astute stewardship at the now-defunct Athletic Park in Wellington in 1998.

Then there was the groundbreaking 30-28 win at the also-defunct Carisbrook in Dunedin 10 years later, when Ricky Januarie conjured up an unforgettable moment of magic.

The 32-29 win in Hamilton the following year was routine by the high standards of the Springboks of that year.

The rather close scoreline was not reflective of the Boks’ dominance and Fran Steyn’s accuracy.

Between that night in Hamilton and the British and Irish Lions’ triumph in the second of three tests in Wellington two months ago, the All Blacks wasted every team in their path.

They have not lost to Australia at home since 2001, England since 2003 and France since 2009.

Wales, Ireland and Scotland do not know what it feels like to win in New Zealand in their respective rugby histories.

It is the weight of history, the travelling and the general excellence of New Zealand rugby that have often got in the way for aspiring touring teams.

France remain the only team in the last 25 years to have won a series in New Zealand (1994) while the British and Irish Lions only have a drawn series (this year) to show for their efforts alongside losses in 2005 and 1993.

It is probably a good thing the Boks are in Auckland ahead of Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash against the old enemy at the North Harbour Stadium.

The fact that the Boks have been moved to the Northlands outpost is indicative of their diminished status after last year’s repeated pummellings in Christchurch and Durban.

But it speaks volumes of their resurgence this year that the All Blacks are speaking highly of them.

Steve Hansen’s side have never underestimated the Boks and this will be their first engagement against them since the 2013 epics and New Zealand will have to be at their best in all departments.

While the Boks are going to be without Coenie Oosthuizen, who broke his arm in the 23-all draw in Perth, the All Blacks are without their first-choice frontrowers of Joe Moody and Owen Franks, who rob the team of 130 caps.

The Boks’ ascendant nature means they will ask uncomfortable questions of the All Blacks pack.

The Boks may have their weaknesses but they have displayed enough in their last five matches to indicate the All Blacks are beatable.

However, that is easier said than done, as history has proven.