 New Zealand 's only annual tournament is a competition involving the Southern Hemisphere 's top national teams . From 1996 through 2011 , they competed in the Tri Nations against Australia and South Africa . In 2012 , Argentina joined the competition which was renamed The Rugby Championship . New Zealand 's record of eleven tournament wins ( the most recent in 2014 ) and 50 match wins is well ahead of the other teams ' records . The Bledisloe Cup is also contested between New Zealand and Australia , and the Freedom Cup between New Zealand and South Africa , as part of the Tri Nations and The Rugby Championship . 
