All Blacks coach Scott Robertson on Rugby's Greatest Rivalry: It's going to be one helluva tour

The shift in SANZAAR's rugby calendar has made space for the return of the traditional tour. The All Blacks will face all four domestic franchises and four Tests against the Springboks from August to September next year, with the Boks returning the favour in 2030.

Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Tour is the culmination of over 100 years of Test matches between the two great nations, and now dominate rugby in the professional era.

Speaking to the media, Robertson could barely hold back his excitement.

"It's a good tag line, isn't it?" said the All Blacks boss.

"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 us and South Africa. There's nothing else like it.

"A lot of historical matches, very political, very on the edge. So much history, so many battles. Everyone will buy into it. This could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for supporters and players.

"The timing of this tour, a year before the [2027] World Cup, gives us a chance to build depth in our squad and find out about ourselves.

"South Africa are as strong as they've ever been so every game will be tough, will feel like Test matches in their own right. It's going to be a hell of a tour.

"[Playing South Africa away] is the greatest challenge. There's nothing like driving to Ellis Park. That is as extreme as you get. Green everywhere, one of the most decorated, amphitheatres of sport you can get."

The inaugural edition of the Tour will mark the first time the All Blacks have toured South Africa since 1996.

Robertson - who was playing for the Crusaders that year - recollected how the Tour grabbed the attention of the nation as captain Sean Fitzpatrick's "The Incomparables" won a hard-fought series 2-1, marking their first ever series win in the Republic.

"You look back to 1996 when the greatest group of All Blacks went over there and by winning the series did something no-one else had done before.

"We're so patriotic and love our rugby so much, so it was an incredible moment for All Black rugby, an amazing moment in our history.

"That was a massive moment. To get to do it 30 years on is pretty special." 

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