Season titles · resolves 13 Nov 2027
Who will win the 2027 Rugby World Cup?
32%South Africa's chance
- South Africa32%
- New Zealand22%
- Ireland16%
- Everyone else30%
How the model worksSeason titles record: 100% of 3 calls right
South Africa
2023 Rugby World Cup Champions
SANZAARWorld Champions 1995, 2007, 2019, 2023498 tests · 1906–2026 · 63.9% won
Title chances
This side's chance in each title race we forecast, frozen and scored like every forecast here.
Full odds: Rugby World Cup · every title race
RivalriesSouth Africa–New Zealand rivalryvs New Zealand★ Top Rivalrytwo-wayMandela Challenge Platevs Australiatwo-way
All-time test record
Played498Won / Lost / Drawn318–162–18Points for / against12,258 / 8,479Win rate63.9%
World ranking (our Elo)
Current#1Peak (since 1947)#1 (1949-07-19)Weeks at #11328
Honours
Rugby World Cup4× (1995, 2007, 2019, 2023) · 8 tournaments · 4 finals · 6 semi-finals
Tri Nations / Rugby Championship6× (1998, 2004, 2009, 2019, 2024, 2025)
South Africa's greatest tests
This nation's highest-rated internationals by Game Score, drawn from the all-time ranking on the hub.
1RWC
24 Jun 1995 · 1995 Rugby World Cup · Final · Johannesburg
15–12▶ Watch
2RC
21 Sep 2024 · 2024 Rugby Championship · Santiago del Estero
29–28
3RC
17 Aug 2002 · 2002 Tri Nations Series · Johannesburg
33–31
4RWC
19 Sep 2015 · 2015 Rugby World Cup · Brighton
34–32
5RWC
28 Oct 2023 · 2023 Rugby World Cup · Final · Saint-Denis
12–11▶ Watch
6RC
2 Sep 2006 · 2006 Tri Nations Series · Rustenburg
21–20
7RC
4 Oct 2014 · 2014 Rugby Championship · Johannesburg
27–25
8RWC
15 Oct 2023 · 2023 Rugby World Cup · Quarter-Final · Saint-Denis
29–28
9RC
11 Sep 2021 · 2021 Rugby Championship · Gold Coast
28–26
10RWC
30 Oct 1999 · 1999 Rugby World Cup · Semi-Final · London
27–21
11RC
19 Aug 2000 · 2000 Tri Nations Series · Johannesburg
46–40
12RC
6 Sep 2014 · 2014 Rugby Championship · Perth
24–23
| # | Match | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 Jun 1995 · 15–12 · 1995 Rugby World Cup · Final · Johannesburg Closeness 0.812 · Stakes 1 · Quality 1.15 · Scoring volume 0 · Upset 0.508 · Placed at #1 by hand: model score 97.0 | |
| 2 | 21 Sep 2024 · 29–28 · 2024 Rugby Championship · Santiago del Estero Closeness 0.961 · Stakes 0.6 · Quality 1.052 · Scoring volume 0.625 · Upset 0.853 | |
| 3 | 17 Aug 2002 · 33–31 · 2002 Tri Nations Series · Johannesburg Closeness 0.931 · Stakes 0.6 · Quality 1.093 · Scoring volume 0.8 · Upset 0.708 | |
| 4 | RWCJapan v South Africa 19 Sep 2015 · 34–32 · 2015 Rugby World Cup · Brighton Closeness 0.933 · Stakes 0.68 · Quality 0.135 · Scoring volume 0.85 · Upset 0 · Curated floor 94: model score 66.8 | |
| 5 | 28 Oct 2023 · 12–11 · 2023 Rugby World Cup · Final · Saint-Denis Closeness 0.938 · Stakes 1 · Quality 1.15 · Scoring volume 0 · Upset 0 | |
| 6 | 2 Sep 2006 · 21–20 · 2006 Tri Nations Series · Rustenburg Closeness 0.946 · Stakes 0.6 · Quality 1.15 · Scoring volume 0.225 · Upset 0.814 | |
| 7 | 4 Oct 2014 · 27–25 · 2014 Rugby Championship · Johannesburg Closeness 0.915 · Stakes 0.6 · Quality 1.15 · Scoring volume 0.5 · Upset 0.723 | |
| 8 | RWCSouth Africa v France 15 Oct 2023 · 29–28 · 2023 Rugby World Cup · Quarter-Final · Saint-Denis Closeness 0.961 · Stakes 0.82 · Quality 1.15 · Scoring volume 0.625 · Upset 0 · All-time classic (curated pick) | |
| 9 | 11 Sep 2021 · 28–26 · 2021 Rugby Championship · Gold Coast Closeness 0.918 · Stakes 0.6 · Quality 1.1 · Scoring volume 0.55 · Upset 0.701 | |
| 10 | RWCAustralia v South Africa 30 Oct 1999 · 27–21 · 1999 Rugby World Cup · Semi-Final · London Closeness 0.722 · Stakes 0.88 · Quality 1.15 · Scoring volume 0.4 · Upset 0.472 | |
| 11 | 19 Aug 2000 · 46–40 · 2000 Tri Nations Series · Johannesburg Closeness 0.845 · Stakes 0.6 · Quality 1.15 · Scoring volume 1 · Upset 0.525 | |
| 12 | 6 Sep 2014 · 24–23 · 2014 Rugby Championship · Perth Closeness 0.953 · Stakes 0.6 · Quality 1.15 · Scoring volume 0.375 · Upset 0.548 |
Season by season
Championship and World Cup campaigns on file; W marks a title, GS a Grand Slam, TC a Triple Crown.
Rugby Championship
2025Place 1W
Rugby Championship
2024Place 1W
Rugby Championship
2023Place 2
Rugby World Cup · B
2023Place —W · Final
Rugby Championship
2022Place 2
Rugby Championship
2021Place 3
Rugby Championship
2019Place 1W
Rugby World Cup · B
2019Place —W · Final
Rugby Championship
2018Place 2
Rugby Championship
2017Place 3
Rugby Championship
2016Place 3
Rugby Championship
2015Place 4
Rugby World Cup · B
2015Place —SF
Rugby Championship
2014Place 2
Rugby Championship
2013Place 2
Rugby Championship
2012Place 2
Rugby World Cup · D
2011Place —QF
Tri Nations Series
2011Place 3
Tri Nations Series
2010Place 3
Tri Nations Series
2009Place 1W
Tri Nations Series
2008Place 3
Rugby World Cup · A
2007Place —W · Final
Tri Nations Series
2007Place 3
Tri Nations Series
2006Place 3
Tri Nations Series
2005Place 2
Tri Nations Series
2004Place 1W
Rugby World Cup · C
2003Place —QF
Tri Nations Series
2003Place 3
Tri Nations Series
2002Place 3
Tri Nations Series
2001Place 3
Tri Nations Series
2000Place 3
Rugby World Cup · A
1999Place —SF
Tri Nations Series
1999Place 3
Tri Nations Series
1998Place 1W
Tri Nations Series
1997Place 2
Tri Nations Series
1996Place 2
Rugby World Cup · A
1995Place —W · Final
| Season | Competition | Place | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Rugby Championship | 1 | W |
| 2024 | Rugby Championship | 1 | W |
| 2023 | Rugby Championship | 2 | |
| 2023 | Rugby World Cup · B | — | W · Final |
| 2022 | Rugby Championship | 2 | |
| 2021 | Rugby Championship | 3 | |
| 2019 | Rugby Championship | 1 | W |
| 2019 | Rugby World Cup · B | — | W · Final |
| 2018 | Rugby Championship | 2 | |
| 2017 | Rugby Championship | 3 | |
| 2016 | Rugby Championship | 3 | |
| 2015 | Rugby Championship | 4 | |
| 2015 | Rugby World Cup · B | — | SF |
| 2014 | Rugby Championship | 2 | |
| 2013 | Rugby Championship | 2 | |
| 2012 | Rugby Championship | 2 | |
| 2011 | Rugby World Cup · D | — | QF |
| 2011 | Tri Nations Series | 3 | |
| 2010 | Tri Nations Series | 3 | |
| 2009 | Tri Nations Series | 1 | W |
| 2008 | Tri Nations Series | 3 | |
| 2007 | Rugby World Cup · A | — | W · Final |
| 2007 | Tri Nations Series | 3 | |
| 2006 | Tri Nations Series | 3 | |
| 2005 | Tri Nations Series | 2 | |
| 2004 | Tri Nations Series | 1 | W |
| 2003 | Rugby World Cup · C | — | QF |
| 2003 | Tri Nations Series | 3 | |
| 2002 | Tri Nations Series | 3 | |
| 2001 | Tri Nations Series | 3 | |
| 2000 | Tri Nations Series | 3 | |
| 1999 | Rugby World Cup · A | — | SF |
| 1999 | Tri Nations Series | 3 | |
| 1998 | Tri Nations Series | 1 | W |
| 1997 | Tri Nations Series | 2 | |
| 1996 | Tri Nations Series | 2 | |
| 1995 | Rugby World Cup · A | — | W · Final |
Head-to-head
New Zealand114 tests
W
46
L
64
D
4
Australia98 tests
W
53
L
42
D
3
England48 tests
W
30
L
16
D
2
France47 tests
W
29
L
12
D
6
Wales45 tests
W
37
L
7
D
1
Argentina41 tests
W
36
L
4
D
1
Scotland31 tests
W
26
L
5
D
0
Ireland31 tests
W
20
L
10
D
1
Italy19 tests
W
18
L
1
D
0
Samoa5 tests
W
5
L
0
D
0
Japan3 tests
W
2
L
1
D
0
Romania2 tests
W
2
L
0
D
0
| Opponent | Tests | W | L | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | tests 114 | 46 | 64 | 4 |
| Australia | tests 98 | 53 | 42 | 3 |
| England | tests 48 | 30 | 16 | 2 |
| France | tests 47 | 29 | 12 | 6 |
| Wales | tests 45 | 37 | 7 | 1 |
| Argentina | tests 41 | 36 | 4 | 1 |
| Scotland | tests 31 | 26 | 5 | 0 |
| Ireland | tests 31 | 20 | 10 | 1 |
| Italy | tests 19 | 18 | 1 | 0 |
| Samoa | tests 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Japan | tests 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Romania | tests 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Canada | tests 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Uruguay | tests 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tonga | tests 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| United States | tests 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fiji | tests 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Namibia | tests 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Spain | tests 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Georgia | tests 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Recent tests
Australia2026-09-27
L 38-422026 Men's InternationalsPerth Stadium, Perth | Boorloo
New Zealand2026-09-12
W 43-282026 Rugby’s Greatest RivalryM&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
New Zealand2026-09-05
W 29-242026 Rugby’s Greatest RivalryFNB Stadium, Soweto
New Zealand2026-08-29
W 33-262026 Rugby’s Greatest RivalryDHL Stadium, Cape Town
New Zealand2026-08-22
L 16-332026 Rugby’s Greatest RivalryEmirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Argentina2026-08-08
W 17-102026 Men's InternationalsEstadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires
Wales2026-07-18
W 43-02026 Nations ChampionshipHollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Scotland2026-07-11
W 42-282026 Nations ChampionshipLoftus Versfeld, Pretoria
England2026-07-04
W 45-212026 Nations ChampionshipEmirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Wales2025-11-29
W 73-02025 Autumn InternationalMillennium Stadium, Cardiff
Ireland2025-11-22
W 24-132025 Autumn InternationalAviva Stadium, Dublin
Italy2025-11-15
W 32-142025 Autumn InternationalAllianz Stadium, Turin
| Date | Opponent | Result | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-27 | Australia | L 38-42 | 2026 Men's Internationals | Perth Stadium, Perth | Boorloo |
| 2026-09-12 | New Zealand | W 43-28 | 2026 Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry | M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland |
| 2026-09-05 | New Zealand | W 29-24 | 2026 Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry | FNB Stadium, Soweto |
| 2026-08-29 | New Zealand | W 33-26 | 2026 Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry | DHL Stadium, Cape Town |
| 2026-08-22 | New Zealand | L 16-33 | 2026 Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry | Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg |
| 2026-08-08 | Argentina | W 17-10 | 2026 Men's Internationals | Estadio José Amalfitani, Buenos Aires |
| 2026-07-18 | Wales | W 43-0 | 2026 Nations Championship | Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban |
| 2026-07-11 | Scotland | W 42-28 | 2026 Nations Championship | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 2026-07-04 | England | W 45-21 | 2026 Nations Championship | Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg |
| 2025-11-29 | Wales | W 73-0 | 2025 Autumn International | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff |
| 2025-11-22 | Ireland | W 24-13 | 2025 Autumn International | Aviva Stadium, Dublin |
| 2025-11-15 | Italy | W 32-14 | 2025 Autumn International | Allianz Stadium, Turin |
From the project rugby workbook (results since 1871) and our own Elo world ranking. See the methodology on the hub.