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Which is the biggest rivalry of each national team?
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<blockquote data-quote="smartcooky" data-source="post: 534375" data-attributes="member: 20605"><p>On the basis that any team's biggest rival has to be the team against which they have the most even win loss record, I would say that, prior to isolation, South Africa were our biggest rivals. We only had a 40% winning record against them (W15 L20 D2). In the post isolation period that picture has changed to nearly 70% wins (W33 L14 D1).</p><p></p><p>During the isolation years (1982 to 1996) a new generation of Kiwi schoolboy players grew up never having experienced an All Blacks test or series against South Africa, while we played 29 tests against Australia for a W18 L10 D1 record. </p><p></p><p>During the first few years of the professional era (starting in 1996) Australia slowly became the big rivalry as we struggled to beat them regularly. In the first six years of that era, we only managed a 50% record, until we won back the Bledisloe Cup in 2003. Since then (apart from the wee aberration in Sydney in November 2003) we haven't looked back..a 77% win record. </p><p></p><p>Special mention must go to the All Black rivalry with Wales. It began with the Bob Deans 'non try' in 1905, probably the most controversial incident in international rugby. The All Blacks lost three of their first four matches against Wales, not getting the record to 50% until 1967. Since then, however, it has been all one way traffic. </p><p></p><p>Looking at things now, I would say that the All Blacks v Springboks v Wallabies is the greatest three-way rivalry in world rugby. They are consistently the top three ranked teams in the world, and have won six out of the seven World Cups to be held.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="smartcooky, post: 534375, member: 20605"] On the basis that any team's biggest rival has to be the team against which they have the most even win loss record, I would say that, prior to isolation, South Africa were our biggest rivals. We only had a 40% winning record against them (W15 L20 D2). In the post isolation period that picture has changed to nearly 70% wins (W33 L14 D1). During the isolation years (1982 to 1996) a new generation of Kiwi schoolboy players grew up never having experienced an All Blacks test or series against South Africa, while we played 29 tests against Australia for a W18 L10 D1 record. During the first few years of the professional era (starting in 1996) Australia slowly became the big rivalry as we struggled to beat them regularly. In the first six years of that era, we only managed a 50% record, until we won back the Bledisloe Cup in 2003. Since then (apart from the wee aberration in Sydney in November 2003) we haven't looked back..a 77% win record. Special mention must go to the All Black rivalry with Wales. It began with the Bob Deans 'non try' in 1905, probably the most controversial incident in international rugby. The All Blacks lost three of their first four matches against Wales, not getting the record to 50% until 1967. Since then, however, it has been all one way traffic. Looking at things now, I would say that the All Blacks v Springboks v Wallabies is the greatest three-way rivalry in world rugby. They are consistently the top three ranked teams in the world, and have won six out of the seven World Cups to be held. [/QUOTE]
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Which is the biggest rivalry of each national team?
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