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Some interesting stats coming out of New Zealand....
James Mortimer - (15/04/2013) - http://www.superrugby.co.nz/s14news/22039/
Earlier in the Investec Super Rugby season, South Africa celebrated their best overall round against New Zealand sides in over a decade, and now the Australian teams have equalled a mark set twelve years ago, curiously the same time the Wallabies hosted and defeated the touring British and Irish Lions.
Fans in Australia will hope that this is setting a precedent, with New Zealand sides having won just one match in seven against their great rivals across the Tasman in Super Rugby competition.
Not only does this bode well for the Wallabies, with history pointing towards Super Rugby performance matching Test results, but there is another simple historical fact – the country that has hosted the famous tourists since 2001 has won either the Tri-Nations or The Investec Rugby Championship.
Coincidence and early results are no guarantee, but the Brumbies beat the Highlanders 30-19, the Reds knocked over the defending champions at home 31-23 win, while the Force continued their fine record over the seven time champions with a 16-14 win in Perth.
The only New Zealand team to be successful was the Blues, defeating the Hurricanes, while the only Australian team to be defeated was the Rebels, who suffered a final stage loss against the Kings, losing 30-27 after failing to hold their ten point lead.
Twelve years ago, the last time Australian franchises boasted such a round, was when the Wallabies whitewashed international rugby, winning the Lions series before winning both that season’s Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup.