The All Blacks’ first full tour of South Africa in 30 years is a celebration of rugby’s greatest rivalry and everything that has made it unique, writes MARK KEOHANE.
Writing for TimesLIVE, Keohane says no World Cup final, Rugby Championship clash or one-off Test can replicate the significance of a traditional tour, where the contest extends far beyond the 80 minutes on the field. He believes the return of the All Blacks for a five-week visit revives one of rugby’s most cherished traditions.
“What we haven’t had is a tour. A proper tour. The kind that asks as many questions off the field as it does on it.”
Keohane points to the remarkable history between the two nations, from the drawn 1921 series to the one-point 2023 World Cup final, arguing that neither side has ever truly been able to separate itself from the other.
He notes that the All Blacks have won just one Test series in South Africa, in 1996, while the Springboks have claimed only one series victory in New Zealand, in 1937.
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“Every great Springbok side has ultimately been judged against the All Blacks. Every great All Blacks team has had to answer the South African question.”
For Keohane, that enduring balance is why this series transcends rankings and recent success. It is the return of a rugby tour – not simply another Test series – that makes the next month so special for players and supporters alike.
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
The post The tour we’ve waited for appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The All Blacks’ first full tour of South Africa in 30 years is a celebration of rugby’s greatest rivalry and everything that has made it unique, writes @mark_keohane
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