The All Blacks have been challenged to put their Eden Park record on the line against the Springboks in 2025.
New Zealand are currently on a 50-Test unbeaten run at the Auckland ground but have not faced their arch-rivals at their spiritual home since 2013.
That could change in 2025 as the Springboks are set to tackle the All Blacks in back-to-back Test matches in New Zealand in the Rugby Championship, much like Scott Robertson’s team have done in South Africa this year.
The gauntlet is thrown down
Former Springboks prop Hanyani Shimange has called for New Zealand Rugby to schedule rugby’s greatest rivalry at the iconic ground and bring an end to an over-a-decade-long wait for the fixture to be hosted at the venue.
The All Blacks claimed a 29-15 victory over the Springboks back in 2013 and the two sides have clashed at the ground on just five occasions since the unbeaten run began in 1994. In fact, the streak kicked off an 18-all stalemate between the two sides with the British and Irish Lions being the only other side that has got something other than a defeat at Eden Park since then.
“Please can we play them at Eden Park next year? That’s going to be a big thing,” Shimange said on the Boks Office podcast.
“They have to put that record on the line, a lot’s going to be said about New Zealand Rugby if next year the schedule comes out and it’s not there.”
Biggest Test of 2025?
Legendary flanker Schalk Burger joked that South Africa won’t really want to go to Auckland anyway after the All Blacks claimed a 35-20 win over the Boks at Mount Smart Stadium in 2023. He did include a jab at the All Blacks’ record in Wellington where they have not won since 2018 – losing three and drawing two.
“It’s not even Eden Park, we went to Mount Smart in Auckland and got absolutely smashed last year,” he said.
“So I don’t think Auckland is the place you want to go to but they can take us to Wellington anytime. But I’d love to go back, I have had a good time in Auckland.”
Shimange added: “Yeah we will be happy to go to Wellington. But I think it will say a lot if they’re trying to protect their record and they don’t take us to Eden Park next year, it has to happen.
“If they back themselves and they believe in Eden Park, then surely you want to play the current world champions at Eden Park. Last time it was because of the women’s soccer World Cup that we played at Mount Smart.”
Joining the ex-Springboks on the podcast was presenter and YouTuber Tim Cocker who said that it would pain him if the fixture did materialise, as he believes that it would be even bigger than the British and Irish Lions tour.
“What pains me is if that happens then it is the biggest game in 2025. It hurts me to say it because it’s a British and Irish Lions tour,” he said.
(planetrugby.com)