South Africa v Australia: Tale of the tape

STATISTICAL UPDATE: As the well-versed idiom goes: 'There are Lies, damned lies, and statistics'.

The phrase, popularized by Mark Twain but attributed it to former British prime minister Benjamin Disraeli, is certainly apt for the opening round of the Rugby Championship.

The Wallabies have never beaten the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld, the venue of the tournament opener.

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They have met 92 times in all competitions - the Boks winning 49 times, the Wallabies 40 times and three Tests ending in a draw.

On South African soil they have met 47 times, with 36 wins by the Boks and just 10 wins by the Aussies.

There was a draw in Bloemfontein in 2017 - 27-all.

Of the Wallaby wins in the Republic four were in Durban (where the Boks have managed just three wins), two in Bloemfontein (two Bok wins and a draw), three in Cape Town (nine Bok wins) and one in Johannesburg (10 Bok wins).

The stats suggest the Boks are the favourites.

However, as the idiom goes: 'There are Lies, damned lies, and statistics'.

@king365ed

@rugby365com

• On SA soil