Stormers, Sharks and Bulls flag All Blacks flaws in Greatest Rivalry

The Stormers, Sharks and Bulls have shown the Springboks where the All Blacks can be exposed in the Greatest Rivalry series. The central message from the three South African teams is that New Zealand’s weaknesses can be identified through the pressure and problems created by domestic opposition.

Their performances have provided the Springboks with three separate reference points ahead of meetings with the All Blacks. The Stormers, Sharks and Bulls are the South African teams singled out for demonstrating the areas in which New Zealand can be placed under strain.

The available information does not include a match score, table positions or individual performances from the series. It does, however, identify the wider significance of the three teams’ contribution: their showing has been linked directly to the Springboks’ preparation for the rivalry with New Zealand.

The Sharks’ recent results have been inconsistent. They lost 4-1 to Shonan Bellmare, beat Kashiwa Reysol 1-0 away, then suffered a 6-2 defeat against Kashiwa Reysol. Further results brought a 1-0 victory over V-Varen Nagasaki and a 4-0 loss to Sanfrecce Hiroshima. That sequence leaves them with two wins and three defeats across the five listed matches.

The Sharks are next scheduled to face the Lions in the Currie Cup on 21 August 2026. That fixture sits separately from the Greatest Rivalry narrative, but it is the next match listed for the Durban side.

For the Springboks, the importance of the series lies in the lessons attached to the three South African teams. The Stormers, Sharks and Bulls have been presented as showing how the All Blacks can be challenged, giving South Africa a defined area of focus in one of rugby’s major international rivalries.