KEY POINTS:
A couple of nine-year-old historical barbs are digging into the Springboks as they prepare for Saturday's Tri-Nations rugby test against the All Blacks here.
Not since 1998 have New Zealand lost a test in Christchurch. And that same year was when the All Blacks last fell to their great South African rivals at any home venue.
Both streaks started with losses that were a week apart in a miserable year that saw the All Blacks toppled five times.
They lost to South Africa 13-3 at Athletic Park and seven days later fell 23-27 to Australia in Christchurch - the first test at which the former Lancaster Park was named Jade Stadium.
Both streaks nearly ended in 2004 when South Africa scored three unanswered tries to lead 21-16 with time almost up at Jade Stadium.
The infamous flat All Blacks backline struggled all night to handle the Springboks' rush defence but finally got around it in the last play of the game, a try to winger Doug Howlett.
That remains the closest New Zealand have come to losing in their present unbeaten home test record, which stands at a world record 24.
Meanwhile, if the understrength South Africans do take heed of recent history, they will do well to hand the All Blacks the early lead on Saturday night.
All four Tri-Nations test this year have been won by teams trailing at halftime.
Indeed, the Wallabies led the Springboks 19-10 midway through the second half in the tournament opener at Cape Town, the Springboks led the All Blacks 21-12 until late at Durban and the All Blacks were 15-6 up after 60 minutes against Australia at Melbourne. On each occasion those advantages were squandered.
Last weekend in Sydney the Springboks shot to a 17-0 lead over the Wallabies before the hosts bounced back to prevail 25-17, the biggest winning margin so far in a closely-contested tournament.
- NZPA
