Former England fly-half claims fearful All Blacks shielded Eden Park record from Springboks
All Blacks haka v Springboks in 2024 Rugby Championship and a general view of Eden Park.
Andy Goode believes the Eden Park streak “could end” in 2025 and that the All Blacks have purposefully avoided facing the Springboks at the ground.
New Zealand are currently on a 50-match unbeaten streak at the Auckland-based ground – winning 48 and drawing two – following their 42-10 triumph over Argentina last year.
It is now over 30 years since they have been beaten at Eden Park, with France the last side to emerge triumphant in 1994.
They will put that on the line, however, when South Africa visits in the Rugby Championship in early September.
Much-anticipated Rugby Championship clash
Both games between the nations will take place on New Zealand soil with the first being held at the iconic Eden Park in Round 3 of the competition.
The Springboks currently sit atop the World Rugby rankings and have won the past four matches against the All Blacks, which means September’s encounter could well be the hosts’ toughest challenge at the stadium.
“I have heard that New Zealand don’t like or don’t want to play South Africa at Eden Park,” former England fly-half Andy Goode claimed on The Rugby Pod.
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Goode was mocked for that view by his fellow panellists but he simply responded: “Have a look over history when the last time the Springboks played there was.”
And the ex-Red Rose playmaker may well be right on that count. The All Blacks’ last match against the Springboks at Eden Park came in 2013, while they have faced-off just five times at the stadium since 1994.
In comparison, that is the same amount as England, who have toured New Zealand just four times in the past two decades.
“I think the All Blacks choose who the play, where they play, when they play. It’s the first time, I’m telling you now, it’s the first time in a long time that the Springboks have got the invite to play at Eden Park,” Goode added.
Prediction
As for the prediction, ex-Wales fly-half Dan Biggar believes that it is “a flip of a coin”, and Goode is equally reluctant to completely back a Springboks victory.
“They [South Africa] could do it, they could end it. It’s got to end at some point, doesn’t it?” he said.
Biggar agreed, stating: “If there’s a team that’s going to break it, you would say that’s the team”, but then argued that New Zealand were impressive in the 2024 matches and could have beaten the Boks.
“I actually think the All Blacks have played really well against the Springboks in the Rugby Championship last year, and have always done alright against them,” the Wales great added.
