What history tells us about the All Blacks' 2025 home fixtures

The All Blacks host three of their most storied rivals on home soil in 2025, putting records on the line against France, South Africa and Australia.

These three opponents own the best winning rates against the All Blacks in history, led of course by South Africa’s 42.59 per cent win rate against New Zealand. Australia have won 29.61 per cent of their contests against their trans-Tasman foes and France have claimed victory 23.81 per cent of the time in the rivalry.

Here’s a breakdown of the history of the contests and how 2025’s chapter might add to the story.

France

All time: 48 (New Zealand wins) – 15 (losses) – 1 (draw)
Dunedin, Forsyth Barr Stadium: 1-0-0
Wellington, Sky Stadium: 4-0-0
Hamilton, FMG Stadium Waikato: 0-0-0

While France have beaten the All Blacks four times in New Zealand, they have not tasted success at any of the venues set to host them in 2025.

That being said, the French currently own the longest win streak against New Zealand, stretching back to 2021. Each of those three wins were claimed at Stade de France.

Of course, the dialogue surrounding this Test series has been all about what kind of team France will send New Zealand’s way. With the Top 14 final set to be played just seven days before the July series kicks off in Dunedin, it’s expected that France will once again name a youthful and inexperienced squad for the tour.

In 2024, France fielded starting XVs with an average age of 24 to face Argentina but won the first Test by 15 points before falling eight points shy of a win in Buenos Aires against a side not too dissimilar from the one who dispatched the All Blacks just one month later.

France undoubtedly has one of the deepest talent pools in rugby, but should they be lacking star power for those series, anything short of a blowout would be considered a disappointment for Scott Robertson’s side.

South Africa

All time: 62-42-4
Auckland, Eden Park: 7-2-1
Wellington, Sky Stadium: 6-1-1

Of course, the headline fixture of Tuesday’s announcement was always going to be the world champions charging the fortress; the Springboks playing at Eden Park.

Just nine Tests have taken place between the two rivals at New Zealand’s biggest stadium, with the first of which being played on Saturday, August 27th, 1921 and going the way of South Africa 9-5 in front of over 30,000 fans.

Winners of the last four contests, including a Rugby World Cup final and a clean sweep of 2024’s Rugby Championship series, South Africa will visit Auckland with their eyes on one of rugby’s most iconic records; the All Blacks’ 50-game unbeaten run at Eden Park.

One question that may arise heading into these Rugby Championship contests is which side will be more battle-hardened for the occasion. A South African side coming out of a series against Italy or a New Zealand team coming out of a series against an understrength France.

A key factor that decided 2024’s matchups was the final quarter of the two Tests, in which New Zealand were outscored by a total of 19 points to zero. That’s a trend that was addressed and left in the past during the Kiwis’ Autumn Nations Series.

Still, it would be fair to say this Springboks Test is the biggest threat to the Eden Park record since at least 2022’s Ireland series.

Australia

All time: 126-45-8
Auckland, Eden Park: 30-4-0

The Lions Series will set the tone for Australia’s Rugby Championship. The nature of the series could see the Wallabies head into The Rugby Championship full of confidence, full of promise or full of frustration.

Joe Schmidt has helped Australia build promisingly towards the tail end of 2024 and the side possesses some star power, but it’s been four, soon to be five long years since a Wallabies win over the All Blacks. Not only that, Australia haven’t tasted victory over the Kiwis at Eden Park since 1986.

History is far from being on Australia’s side in this one, but this is a Wallabies team focused on the future.

A five-year plan has been tabled by Rugby Australia that includes winning the Bledisloe Cup back after 20 years and returning to the No. 1 ranked international team by 2029.

Whether or not Joe Schmidt is the man to lead that charge beyond the Lions tour is yet to be seen, but a decision is expected from the coach shortly. Should he leave office after his current contract ends, the Wallabies could find themselves adapting to a new coach’s gameplan when they visit Eden Park.