Scott Robertson: South Africa leaving Super Rugby made ‘Greatest Rivalry’ tour possible

All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson has revealed that the recently launched Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series would not have been able to take place if South African teams were still in action at Super Rugby level.

On Thursday, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the South African Rugby Union (SARU) announced details of the All Blacks’ seven-match tour to South Africa in 2026 as well as an eighth fixture hosted at an international venue.

All Blacks to face Springboks and URC teams

The latter clash will form part of a four-Test series against the Springboks while the All Blacks will also take on South Africa’s four United Rugby Championship (URC) teams in midweek matches in the traditional tour format.

Shortly after rugby union turned professional in 1995, Super Rugby was launched in 1996 and the leading clubs from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa participated in the tournament.

The competition was very successful and lasted for more than 20 years with clubs from Argentina and Japan also allowed to participate during that period.

However, after the Covid-19 pandemic struck, which curtailed the 2020 Super Rugby tournament, it forced a rethink in New Zealand and Australia, with travel being notably impacted.

NZR decided to break away from the competition, establishing the domestic Super Rugby Aotearoa tournament, before they and Australia joined forces to set up Super Rugby Trans-Tasman and then Super Rugby Pacific.

That meant teams from South Africa were forced to go their own way and their four leading franchises – the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers – joined the northern hemisphere-based URC and have also been allowed to qualify for the European Champions Cup.

Meanwhile, a fifth South African outfit, the Cheetahs, who are not currently involved in the URC, have participated in Europe’s second-tier Challenge Cup competition.

Robertson was asked whether he felt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour would still have happened if the South African franchises were still in action at Super Rugby level and admitted that he had not thought about that scenario.

Rassie Erasmus’ verdict on Springboks featuring in midweek games against the All Blacks

“I hadn’t thought about it from that angle,” he said. “It wasn’t on my little protected potential list of questions. Probably not.

‘Not when you play them every year’

“No, not when you play them every year, you’re going to play them again.

“So I think part of them playing in the north has helped create this opportunity to tour.”

Robertson was also asked whether he viewed the All Blacks’ rivalry with the Springboks as the best in the game and what he though the Australians would make of next year’s South Africa v New Zealand encounters being promoted as Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.

“It’s good,” he commented.

“I suppose it’s a good angle. I think a lot of historical matches, a lot of history, very political, very on the edge. There’s been so much history with us and battles with South Africa that obviously that’s why it’s been termed that and it’s a good tagline, isn’t it?

“Everyone will buy into it and it’s a bit of marketing, but there’s more behind it than that because there’s so much historical rugby that’s been played between the two of us.

“What does Aussie think of it? I honestly haven’t thought about that, but, jeez, the last two matches (against the Wallabies), they were a hell of a battle themselves.

“So this is just a different storyline in rugby.”

READ MORE: Springboks v All Blacks: A comprehensive analysis of the 12 previous Greatest Rivalry series