(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Just a few minutes from now, one of the biggest matches of the year will kick off between the World Number 1, the All Blacks, and the current Rugby World Cup holders, South Africa.
The All Blacks and Springboks rivalry started over 88 years ago, when they first played against each other in August 1921 in Dunedin, Otago and New Zealand defeated them 13-5.
A week later, the Springboks hit back and defeated the All Blacks, 9-5. Since then, they have played each other 75 times, with the kiwis winning 42 and the Springboks winning 32 with only 3 draws.
The last time the All Blacks were on South African soil, they thrashed the Springboks, 19-0 in last year's Tri-Nations tournament and they will be looking to repeat history. This year, the Springboks played three tests against the British & Irish outfit (top players from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland) winning two and losing the final test.
On the other hand, The All Blacks had three matches, two against France and one against Italy. They lost their first match against France, but came back from behind to beat them in the second match. They even played Italy, but were not able to beat them comprehensively, as they had to face the wallabies in their first match of the Tri-Nations/Bledisloe Cup
The Wallabies were no pushovers, as they managed to score early in the half, and were leading for nearly 45 minutes of the match before the All Blacks' fly-half slotted in two penalties to win them the match on home soil.
They will play two matches in South Africa, but will be without their most versatile fly-half Dan Carter, who has been out of rugby for a while and was not considered for the Tri-Nation opener.
This week, the All Blacks made only two changes to the team: The returns of speed merchant Joe Rokocoko into the starting lineup, and Brendan Leonard, the chief scrumhalf who hasn't played any rugby since the Super 14 final. The match has kicked off, and the All Blacks will be trying to retain their winning record on South African soil since 2007.
The Teams:
South Africa
15 Frans Steyn, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 John Smit (c), 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Replacements
16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Morne Steyn, 22 Wynand Olivier.
New Zealand
15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Joe Rokocoko , 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements
16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Jason Eaton, 19 Kieran Read, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Luke McAlister, 22 Cory Jane .
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