Rugby Union Betting Tips For Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026 - All Blacks vs Springboks

The two best teams in rugby union finally come together when the Springboks play host to the All Blacks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. We review all the key stats and data to put forward our best rugby union betting tips.

It’s almost game day! It’s the series all rugby union fans have been waiting for, as we see two of the best teams fight it out for glory. This is the first of a four-game series between the All Blacks and Springboks, with all games being played in South Africa. The BettingTop10 team goes through all the key pieces of data and news you need to know before the game.

Odds thanks to Betista (accurate at time of publication).

All Blacks

The All Blacks come into this clash in excellent form. They have already picked up three wins in the Nations Championship, over France, Italy, and Ireland. The only team above them in the Southern Hemisphere Conference are, of course, the Springboks!

We’ve already seen the All Blacks win their first three games against local franchises since touching down in South Africa earlier this month. However, this will be a considerable rise in opposition quality, and the New Zealand side has been plagued by injury.

One player we should expect back, though, is Will Jordan. Coach Dave Rennie is confident in Jordan’s chances of taking to the field after overcoming a back injury. Jordan has scored 51 tries in 57 Tests. We’ve seen a willingness to attack from this All Blacks side, so look for them to get a quick start.

Springboks

If the All Blacks are in red-hot form, the same can certainly be said for the Springboks! They scraped through with a win over Argentina, 17-10, which brings their Test winning streak to 17, and they have won their opening three Nations Championship matches.

They also have a decent recent record over the All Blacks, winning five of the last six clashes. It’s their style of play that seems to upset the All Blacks. Plus, playing at Ellis Park does certainly give them more of an edge with their physical and territorial game style.

The player that could give the All Blacks the most problems is likely Malcolm Marx. The 2025 World Rugby Player of the Year has the ability to steer things in the Springboks’ favour at the set pieces and breakdowns.

The last five Test matches between the All Blacks and Springboks span all the way back to October 2023. The Springboks have a grip on the All Blacks in recent clashes, winning four of the last five, including last time out in Wellington, 43-10. 

The All Blacks have already been in South Africa for a while, playing three local franchise teams before this clash. They have won all three of those games, with scorelines of 38-21, 54-0, and 50-19. The Springboks recently played Argentina in Buenos Aires on August 8, and they did manage to win that one 17-10.

The most vital trends that you should be aware of leading into this match: 

• In 54 Tests in South Africa between these two sides, 28 were won by the Springboks, 25 by the All Blacks, and one draw.
• Ellis Park typically produces high-scoring games, with the last two international matches here going for total points of 66 and 60.
• Both the All Blacks and Springboks have the full offering of 15 points in the Nations Championship (winning all three of their games so far).

Both these sides are clearly right up there with the best of the best. Obviously, playing at home gives the Springboks a massive advantage. I’d be very surprised if the All Blacks let them run over the top of them though, and this could end up being a tight affair.

Especially when you consider this is the first of four Tests, and the two sides (who haven’t played each other in almost a year) may just be feeling each other out. Both teams have confidence coming into this one, and with the handicap set at 7.5, the safe bet is on the All Blacks.

Take the All Blacks to cover the +7.5 spread @ $1.83.

This is an excellent series to see where two of the best rugby union sides sit against each other. Both teams are oozing confidence, but the edge does need to be given to the home side. However, there isn’t necessarily a lot of value in the $1.34 that’s currently on offer for the Springboks, so it’s best to look elsewhere. Also, it’s a good idea to check out betting bonuses, which can help you get more bang for your buck!