Away record All Black for Springboks | Thebigtip

History not on Springboks side - by Max Abbott from foxsports.com.au

South Africa may be favourites for the Tri Nations title but Fox Sports Stats reveals they will first have to overcome an Australasian hoodoo if they are to defend the crown for the first time.

The Springboks begin their defence with three Tests on consecutive weekends, a demanding schedule which includes Tests at Auckland’s Eden Park, Wellington’s Westpac Stadium and Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

On nine combined attempts at these venues in Tri Nations rugby, South Africa are yet to come away with victory – a hurdle they must overcome to retain their crown.

The Springboks would need to win at least one and more likely two of those three matches to return to South Africa knowing they will control their destiny.

The Wallabies, on the other hand, will hope New Zealand maintain their winning run at home and leave behind a battered, bruised and vulnerable South Africa for them to tackle.

However, the Wallabies face their own statistical obstacle if they hope to make a mark in this year’s tournament, with their two matches in South Africa both at venues which they have never won in Tri Nations history - Loftus Versfeld and Vodacom Park.

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