An eight-match tour by New Zealand, branded as 'Rugby's Greatest Rivalry', is underway with the aim of converting a century of rugby history into a modern commercial asset. The unions involved have created a 50-50 venture to share commercial income.
The tour includes four Tests, with the final match scheduled to be held in Baltimore. This decision is expected to generate between $4m and $6m more than if the game were played in South Africa. Both unions reportedly require the revenue from this professional sporting endeavour.
Early attendance figures in South Africa have varied. While over 47,000 spectators watched New Zealand's opening 38-21 victory against the Stormers in Cape Town, a subsequent match on Tuesday night saw 14,759 people attend the 52,000-seat Kings Park Stadium in Durban to watch New Zealand defeat the Sharks 54-0. This lower attendance occurred despite cold and wet weather conditions.