One thinks of the Boks being money against Oz at home, but we have lost about 20% of the time, eleven losses in 50 tests. The loss at Ellis Park was the third biggest ever, one point more than our 1933 loss which I know nothing about. The only significantly bigger loss was the 23 point loss at Newlands in 92 when Australia was a real force and we were coming back from isolation.
Given the relative trajectories of the two teams and the initial lead, I’d have to give the 2025 loss the nod in terms of pure shock value. It’s all been forgotten after the big win against NZ, but it remains a bit of a mystery. Why did our defense fall apart so spectacularly and is there a lesson there for other teams?
Here are all the times the Springboks lost to Australia in South Africa (tests only), with date • venue • score:
- 22 Jul 1933 • Kingsmead, Durban • South Africa 6–21 Australia. Wikipedia
- 2 Sep 1933 • Springbok Park, Bloemfontein • South Africa 4–15 Australia. Wikipedia
- 5 Sep 1953 • Newlands, Cape Town • South Africa 14–18 Australia. Wikipedia
- 10 Aug 1963 • Newlands, Cape Town • South Africa 5–9 Australia. Wikipedia
- 24 Aug 1963 • Ellis Park, Johannesburg • South Africa 9–11 Australia. Wikipedia
- 29 Aug 1992 • Newlands, Cape Town • South Africa 3–26 Australia. Wikipedia
- 26 Aug 2000 • Kings Park, Durban • South Africa 18–19 Australia. Wikipedia
- 23 Aug 2008 • Kings Park, Durban • South Africa 15–27 Australia. Wikipedia
- 4 Sep 2010 • Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein • South Africa 39–41 Australia. Wikipedia
- 13 Aug 2011 • Kings Park, Durban • South Africa 9–14 Australia. Wikipedia
- 16 Aug 2025 • Ellis Park, Johannesburg • South Africa 22–38 Australia. (First Aussie win at Ellis Park since 1963.) Wikipedia+1
These 11 matches align with the head-to-head tally showing Australia have 11 wins in South Africa (out of 50 tests there).