Beauden Barrett eyes 'huge challenge' against Boks as Rugby's Greatest Rivalry looms

New Zealand are set to arrive in early August, where they will first face all four United Rugby Championship sides before taking on the Springboks in a four-Test series. Two of those matches will be played in Johannesburg, one in Cape Town, while the final encounter is scheduled for Baltimore, USA, on September 12.

The All Blacks and Springboks remain the most successful nations in Test rugby history. New Zealand boast a 76% win rate, with South Africa next best at 64%. However, the Springboks lead the way in Rugby World Cup titles with four, one more than their rivals.

The two sides have been competing at Test level since 1921, when South Africa drew a series in New Zealand. They have since contested 12 series, split evenly between the two countries. South Africa's only series win in New Zealand came in 1937, while the All Blacks had to wait until 1996 to secure a series victory on South African soil.

With that history in mind, the upcoming clashes have been dubbed the 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry' series, and Barrett has made it clear he is eager to be part of the All Blacks squad for the tour.

"It's such a unique tour experience where you can relate them to like a Lions tour," he told the DSPN podcast with Martin Devlin. "So, for the first time, potentially, I'll get an opportunity to have, what is it, a seven-week tour?

"And in probably the hardest place to turn up and play rugby in.

"So, it'll be a great experience for all of those involved. And what a challenge, like even playing the midweek games are going to be tough, tough games playing the provinces.

"We know how proud, how strong South Africans are and (the) South African rugby teams are to play."

The Springboks have dominated the international game in recent years, backing up back-to-back Rugby World Cup triumphs in 2019 and 2023 with a 2-1 series win over the British & Irish Lions in 2021, as well as consecutive Rugby Championship titles in 2024 and 2025.

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