Each tier one nation's heaviest Rugby Union defeat

Find out the heaviest international rugby defeats for each tier one nation.

In round four of the 2025 Rugby Championship, South Africa handed the All Blacks their biggest ever defeat in an international test match, winning 43-10 in Wellington.

The 33-point difference from that match is the lowest record-defeat among any tier one nation.

In fact, despite being the heaviest loss in New Zealand history, it would rank as Wales' fifth highest defeat within the last twelve months, such is the level of dominance the All Blacks have shown historically.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the top five heaviest defeats for each tier one rugby union nation.

New Zealand's heaviest defeats in Rugby Union

1. New Zealand 10-43 South Africa (Wellington, September 2025)

2. South Africa 35-7 New Zealand (London, August 2023)

3. Australia 47-26 New Zealand (Perth, August 2019)

4. South Africa 17-0 New Zealand (Durban, June 1928)

5. England 38-21 New Zealand (London, December 2012)

South Africa's heaviest defeats in Rugby Union

1. New Zealand 57-0 South Africa (Albany, September 2017)

2. England 53-0 South Africa (London, November 2002)

3. Australia 49-0 South Africa (Brisbane, July 2006)

4. South Africa 15-57 New Zealand (Durban, October 2016)

5. South Africa 16-56 New Zealand (Pretoria, July 2003)

Australia's heaviest defeats in Rugby Union

1. South Africa 53-8 Australia (Johannesburg, August 2008)

2. Argentina 67-27 Australia (Santa Fe, September 2024)

3. South Africa 61-22 Australia (Pretoria, August 1997)

4. Australia 5-43 New Zealand (Sydney, October 2020)

5. New Zealand 43-6 Australia (Wellington, July 1996)

Argentina's heaviest defeats in Rugby Union

1. New Zealand 93-8 Argentina (Wellington, June 1997)

2. South Africa 73-13 Argentina (Johannesburg, August 2013)

3. South Africa 63-9 Argentina (Johannesburg, August 2008)

4. New Zealand 61-10 Argentina (Hamilton, June 1997)

5. England 51-0 Argentina (London, November 1990)

England's heaviest defeats in Rugby Union

1. Australia 76-0 England (Brisbane, June 1998)

2. South Africa 58-10 England (Bloemfontein, May 2007)

3. England 10-53 France (London, March 2023)

4. Australia 51-15 England (Brisbane, June 2004)

5. South Africa 36-0 England (Paris, September 2007)

France's heaviest defeats in Rugby Union

1. New Zealand 61-10 France (Wellington, June 2007)

2. New Zealand 62-13 France (Cardiff, October 2015

3. New Zealand 54-7 France (Wellington, June 1999)

4. France 3-47 New Zealand (Lyon, November 2006)

5. France 16-59 Australia (Paris, November 2010)

Scotland's heaviest defeats in Rugby Union

1. Scotland 10-68 South Africa (Edinburgh, December 1997)

2. New Zealand 69-20 Scotland (Dunedin, June 2000)

3. South Africa 55-6 Scotland (Port Elizabeth, June 2014)

4. Wales - 51-3 Scotland (Cardiff, March 2014)

5. Scotland 3-49 New Zealand (Edinburgh, November 2010)

Wales's heaviest defeats in Rugby Union

1. South Africa 96-13 Wales (Pretoria, June 1998)

2. Australia 63-3 Wales (Brisbane, July 1991)

3. England 62-5 Wales (London, June 2007)

4. Wales 14-68 England (Cardiff, March 2025)

5. New Zealand 55-3 Wales (Hamilton, June 2003)

Ireland's heaviest defeats in Rugby Union

1. New Zealand 60-0 Ireland (Hamilton, June 2012)

2. New Zealand 59-6 Ireland (Wellington, June 2008)

3. Ireland 15-63 New Zealand (Dublin, November 1997)

4. England 57-15 Ireland (London, August 2019)

5. England 46-6 Ireland (Dublin, February 1997)

Italy's heaviest defeats in Rugby Union

1. South Africa 101-0 Italy (Durban , June 1999)

2. New Zealand 101-3 Italy (Huddersfield, October 1999)

3. New Zealand 96-17 Italy (Lyon, September 2023)

4. South Africa 74-3 Italy (Port Elizabeth, June 1999)

5. New Zealand 70-6 Italy (Auckland, May 1987) and (Bologna, October 1995)