For New Zealand and South Africa there is no bigger challenge than what both consider rugby’s greatest rivalry, and the World Cup final on Saturday will be among their most significant clashes, with each team seeking a record fourth title.
The rich history of this 102-year-old matchup has seen political turmoil, countless bruising battles, a previous World Cup final and even a 0-0 draw.
The All-Blacks have a sizeable lead in the head-to-head with 62 wins to South Africa’s 39 in 105 matches and are the only nation the Springboks have a losing record against.