Latest News
The next All Blacks v Springboks chapter must take place at Eden Park
Analysis: In the wash up of the All Blacks’ visit to South Africa, one thing had been made very clear.
No, not that the Springboks are truly the number one side in the world – because we already knew that. More that South African fans truly treasure this fixture and are looking forward eagerly to an all-but-confirmed return to an old-school tour in 2026.
The seal of approval is likely to come within the next month or so, as NZ Rugby and SA Rugby work through the finer points as well as what will happen to the Rugby Championship. Three tests are in the offing, likely split between Johannesburg and Cape Town, plus midweek games against the former Super Rugby teams in their home cities.
Caleb Clarke celebrates a try during the All Blacks v Argentina test in July. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
It’s a tantalising prospect, with a nice bit of symmetry coming 30 years after the most famous All Black visit to the republic. Fans old enough to remember the amateur era of touring will be swept up in the nostalgic value, while younger fans can have it presented to them as something entirely new.
As much as it pains the All Blacks to hear it, losing both tests over the last two weeks does heat up the narrative for the tour. It’ll now be an attempt at redemption on South African soil, and a chance for the All Blacks to prove something massive in the lead-up to the following year’s World Cup.
But that’s for down the track. The sides next meet in New Zealand next year, so it’s the perfect time to welcome the Springboks back to Eden Park and add to the hype of what’s rightfully being called rugby’s greatest rivalry.
The All Blacks and Springboks haven’t played at the country’s largest stadium in over a decade, during a highly controversial 2013 test that saw Bismarck du Plessis sent off after a heavy tackle on Dan Carter.
The All Blacks went on to win 29-15, thanks in part to the one-man advantage, although the spiteful encounter saw them reduced to 13 at full time after Kieran Read and Ma’a Nonu were yellow-carded.
It’s one of only five tests between the two sides at Eden Park in the professional era – a period that has seen the All Blacks go undefeated there for the last 50 tests. However, you need to go back a lot further for any South African test success there.
The All Blacks have not been defeated at Eden Park in 50 tests, Photo: Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz
This was in 1937: a breathtaking, 17-6, five tries to none victory that sealed a three-one series win for the Springboks. For context: the last All Black involved in that test, Tori Reid, passed away in 2003. Since then, Eden Park has been the scene of two of the most famous tests between the two sides, albeit for different reasons.
In 1956, Peter Jones’ try helped the All Blacks to an 11-5 win in the fourth test, winning them their first-ever series victory over the Springboks. The crowd that day, 61,240, remains a record for an attendance at a New Zealand sporting event.
Some 25 years later, while protests raged outside on the surrounding streets and a plane flew over the pitch dropping flour bombs and flares, the All Blacks won a dramatic third test 25-22 thanks to an injury-time Alan Hewson penalty goal.
Fast forward to now, and we find ourselves in an era of almost unrivalled dominance by the Springboks. They have won the last two World Cups and have now handed the All Blacks four defeats in a row – only the second team to do so since their 1949 counterparts whitewashed their series.
So, the history is there. The record is there. Eden Park, the fortress, should stand against this challenge in 2025.
~RNZ
The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.
On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.
Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.
In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.
“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.
“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”
VNP / Phil Smith
Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.
That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.
“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.
Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.
Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.
The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.
Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.
Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.
“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”
Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.
rnz
Police say person who fired gun at officers still at large
New Zealand sides named for RLWC finals
Parliamentary Service working on extra chairs and offices for increased number of MPs
-
Latest News2 months ago‘Chilling’: Business groups speak out against National’s supermarket break-up plan
-
NZ News2 months agoTom Phillips report: The missed opportunities to find the children
-
Latest News2 months agoCars bearing Chinese police markings stir unease in Auckland
-
Politics2 months agoNational vows to try to split Pak’nSave and New World
-
Fiji News2 months agoPlans to have new Constitution by Dec 24th 2026
-
Politics2 months agoMBIE confirms botched biometric projects costs blown out to $50.7 million
-
NZ News2 months agoCop who stole $68,000 can now be named as champion Muay Thai fighter Haimona Tamati-Te Paki
-
Latest News2 months agoFive Karangahape Road venues lose their liquor licences after police intervention