New Zealand vs South Africa

The Rugby Championship's only remaining unbeaten teams face each other in what could be a tournament deciding clash in Auckland this weekend.

New Zealand's All Blacks will host South Africa's Springboks and both teams have beaten Argentina and Australia but have yet to face each other this year.

The All Blacks will be without their regular captain Richie McCaw but to even things out South Africa will be playing their third match away from home and their second since they left South Africa two weeks ago.

The Springboks flew back to South Africa after their victory over Argentina as there was a bye in between their matches against the Pumas and Australia's Wallabies but they have now been away for two weeks.

Super Rugby sides frequently find the second week on tour the most difficult and struggle to come away with victories in their second tour match.

New Zealand have played South Africa 85 times since 1921 and the All Blacks have won 48 times lost 34 times and on three occasions the teams drew.

That record gives the all Blacks a record of winning 57% of their matches across all venues against the Springboks.

The average score when the All Blacks play the Springboks is New Zealand 19 South Africa 15.

This weekend the teams will face each other in Auckland New Zealand at Eden Park which is home for New Zealand and also the venue where they have won both of their Rugby World Cup titles.

New Zealand have played South Africa 39 times in New Zealand and they have won 28 times, lost nine times and drawn twice.

That gives New Zealand a record of winning 72% of their matches against South Africa in new Zealand.

The average score when New Zealand play South Africa in New Zealand is : New Zealand 20 South Africa.

As mentioned earlier match will be played at Eden Park and the All Blacks have an extraordinary record at the venue.

The last All Black loss in Auckland was in July 1994 and the last time they didn't win at the venue was a month later in August 1994 as they drew 18-all with the Springboks.

Since then the All Blacks have won 30 straight Test matches at Eden Park.

New Zealand have played South Africa 9 times at Eden Park and they have won six times and los twice and drawn once.

South Africa have however not beaten New Zealand at Eden Park since 1937.

This means that the All Blacks have won 67% of their matches against the Springboks who have won 22% of their matches at Eden Park against New Zealand.

The average score when the All Blacks play the Springboks at Eden Park is : New Zealand 22 Springboks 15.

While the Springboks are unbeaten in this year's Rugby Championship they have not been tested yet by any really strong opposition. Australia are sliding down the rankings and Argentina are going in the same direction.

The All Blacks - at home - are a completely different prospect. South Africa have not won a Rugby Championship/TriNations match in New Zealand for four years which also shows how rare Bok victories are in NZ.

The Springboks have named an unchanged team for this week which means they have kept their massive forward pack and the battle at the breakdown should be where the match is decided.

The All Blacks have beefed up their pack with the inclusion of now double winning Super Rugby captain Liam Messam and in the forwards rising star Sam Cane with another up and coming star Matt Todd on the bench.

The Springboks last victory over the All Blacks was in 2011 at Port Elizabeth but that team was a second string All Black team as they were resting players for the World Cup.

The only team to have beaten New Zealand's All Blacks in their last 27 Tests is England at Twickenham. That result was an extraordinary result but for the Springboks to beat the All Blacks at home in Eden Park will be an even bigger shock result given their history there.

Teams

New Zealand

Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Dan Carter, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (captain), Sam Cane, Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Tony Woodcock.

Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Steven Luatua, Matt Todd, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Charles Piutau.

South Africa

15 Zane Kihner ,14 Willie le Roux,13 JJ Engelbrecht,12 Jean de Villiers (c) ,11 Bryan Habana,10 Morne Steyn ,9 Ruan Pienaar ,8 Duane Vermeulen ,7 Willem Alberts ,6 Francois Louw ,5 Flip van der Merwe ,4 Eben Etzebeth ,3 Jannie du Plessis,2 Bismak du Plessis ,1 Tendai Mtawarira

Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss ,17 Gurthro Steenkamp ,18 Coenie Oosthuizen ,19 Juandre Kruger,20 Siya Kolisi,21 Jano Vermaak,22 Pat Lambie ,23 Jan Serfontein