The most highly-anticipated Test match since the Rugby World Cup final gets the ‘here we go’ treatment as the All Blacks and Springboks collide at the iconic Eden Park Stadium in Auckland.
It’s number one v number two in the world at the ground where the All Blacks boast a record of nearly 90% in their history. But for the first time in 12 years and just the 11th time ever, their fiercest rivals are in town and their 50-game unbeaten record is on the line.
The storylines are endless. The fixture is mouth-watering. It simply doesn’t get much bigger than this outside of a men’s Rugby World Cup year.
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry takes centre stage at the spiritual home of the winningest team the game has ever seen as they host the old foe who has won more World Cups than any other nation and has had their number in their last four meetings.
It’s glorious theatre at a sold-out venue. Two teams desperate for a win, not just for the possibility of pushing for a trophy, but to prove their status as the best team in the world and the all-important bragging rights.
Frankly, there is no grander rugby fixture than New Zealand v South Africa, and with everything on the line this weekend, it promises to be one of the captivating chapters of this rivalry’s storied history stretching back over 100 years.
Where the game will be won
It’s hard to pinpoint just one area of the game where this fixture will be decided, with the two nations bound to go full hammer and tongs at one another for the full 80 minutes and some.
The Springboks‘ victory over the Wallabies last time out suggests that the visitors will back their aerial game against the All Blacks, particularly considering that it is an area of concern for Scott Robertson’s men. The selections of Grant Williams and Handre Pollard in the half-backs only adds fuel to that notion, as does the inclusion of Canan Moodie and Cheslin Kolbe on the wings, the former providing significant height to the aerial duel and the latter a freakish elasticity in how he is able to rocket into the air.
To help the All Blacks’ cause, Robertson has made the shock decision to select Chiefs flyer Emoni Narawa on the wing ahead of Sevu Reece. The 26-year-old is arguably New Zealand’s best aerial specialist, but has been repeatedly overlooked by the coaching staff, with his only cap in 2025 coming after a late injury to Caleb Clarke when Reece was sidelined too. Narawa has often featured at full-back at club level, and while his ability under the high ball will be in the spotlight, he is a tricky operator around the fringes of the ruck and on the counter-attack.
The duel in the air is not the only place where the battle lines will be drawn; the collision areas will also be crucial. South Africa look to be lacking some go-forward grunt in the pack, with Jasper Wiese still suspended and Jean-Luc du Preez suffering a gutting injury. It means that they are lacking a bit of a battering ram through the middle of the park, which Damian de Allende may be tasked with making up for.
South Africa’s breakdown has also been a real problem area in 2025, which the Wallabies exposed, particularly in Johannesburg. Their task won’t be much easier this week with the likes of Ardie Savea and Du’Plessis Kirifi in the All Blacks’ ranks.
Then there is the set-piece battle with Rassie Erasmus highlighting the scrum as a massive focus area with four classy sets of front-rowers, and the same goes for the lineout. At the highest level, in the biggest games, the match is always won and lost up front, and Eden Park will be no different.
Finally, the last four meetings between these two proud rugby nations have been littered with ill-discipline, something that plagued the All Blacks in Argentina, too.
A staggering 11 cards have been issued in the last four Tests, with New Zealand shown five yellow cards and two reds in that time, while the Springboks complete the count with six sin-binnings.
This fixture promises to come down to the wire. The one-percenters making all the difference and keeping 15 men on the park may well be the difference between winning and losing.
Rassie Erasmus predicts a ‘hellishly competitive’ Eden Park battle and highlights five crucial areas
Last time they met
What they said
It has been suggested previously that New Zealand Rugby has shielded the Eden Park record from the Springboks, but head coach Robertson revealed that he embraced the challenge when he was consulted about the fixture list going forward.
“When I took on the job last year, they showed me the fixture list and I said, ‘It’s been a long time, let’s do it.’ These are the occasions you look forward to as a rugby player, team and country,” he told reporters after naming his team for the encounter.
Where are they now? The last Springboks team to play the All Blacks at Eden Park
It’s certainly fair to say that the occasion hasn’t been played down by any means, with ex-All Blacks pivot and now the Boks attack coach Tony Brown setting the tone last week.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for us to go there and take on the challenge; it’s always going to be a tough All Blacks team,” Brown said.
“Every Test is important. The Rugby Championship always comes down to one or two games.
“So hopefully we can win the key ones, make a push in New Zealand and then hopefully go back to South Africa with some points on the board.
“It’s probably the biggest game since the Rugby World Cup final, so the players are excited. The All Blacks are going to be desperate to win, Springboks are going to be desperate to win – so it should make for an amazing game.”
After naming the team for the showdown, Bok boss Erasmus echoed the sentiments of Brown and Robertson.
“This is obviously going to be a completely different challenge to what we’ve faced against them in the last two years, with the match being hosted in New Zealand, and also at a venue where they hold a fantastic record,” he said.
“That said, we’ve been working hard on the detail we wanted to iron out following the matches against the Wallabies since arriving in Auckland, so it’s now up to us to implement our plans and deliver a performance that we can be proud of.”
He added: “The history and rivalry between the sides speaks for itself, and with all the permutations attached to this match, it makes it particularly noteworthy, so we are expecting it to be a proper grind.
“There are records on the line for both teams, and there’s no doubt that this game will be important in trying to win the competition, especially given how close the standings are at this stage. It’s definitely going to be a special match, and both teams will give everything they’ve got out there.”
Zoning in on the key battlegrounds, Robertson highlighted the aerial duel and the collision areas.
“The aerial game is critical for us to win this year,” he said. “The boys are looking forward to that, and probably the collisions around the back-row, the ability to keep winning them and be technically sound, the skill set of those big bodies that are coming towards us, how we get them to the ground.”
His counterpart didn’t disagree, stating that it was going to be a competitive fixture in every facet of the game.
“I looked at the two teams selected, and we’re both going with a 5-3 split, and what the two benches bring is very similar. There also hasn’t been a lot between us previously,” he said.
“We’ve got a good referee; we know the way he referees. I think scrum time is going to be big for both teams who have been scrumming well. The team they selected has got guys who are biting really hard at the breakdown. Kwagga coming off the bench and Du’Plessis on the bench – so the make-up of the replacements is pretty much the same.
“Both coaching staffs are expecting a really tight game, and I guess it will be the belief at the vital moments, and that’s how it’s been in the last couple of years. I know there was that big 57-0 and we had that big one at Twickenham, but I think it’s belief and momentum-shifting moments that either team handles the best. I can’t pinpoint it to one or two things. In all areas of the pitch, it’s going to be a hellishly competitive.”
Both coaches also paid tribute to All Blacks star Savea, who will be earning his 100th Test cap for New Zealand.
“Playing 100 Tests is one of the most special milestones a player can achieve, and we’d like to congratulate Ardie for reaching this feat,” said the Bok coach.
“He’s been a true servant to New Zealand rugby, and he deserves all the recognition that comes with that. It also doesn’t get more special than playing at their fortress in such a massive game.”
Robertson added: “Ardie embodies everything that makes an All Black. He brings an extraordinary level of passion, leadership, and mana every time he pulls on the jersey. We will honour his milestone with a performance that reflects not just his quality on the field, but the example he sets every day.
“Ardie is one of three centurions in the match day 23 to play South Africa, while Kyle Preston is joined by three other players who have debuted for the All Blacks this year. As with all of our debutants, we know that Kyle will rise to the challenge in the black jersey. He is a skilful player who has proven his ability to drive a game and make smart decisions in pressure moments.”
In numbers: The All Blacks’ INSANE 50 game unbeaten run at Eden Park since 1994
Players to watch
Every blockbuster needs a leading character and for the All Blacks, that’s very much Ardie Savea, who will become the 15th player to don the black jersey on 100 occasions. Quite simply, he has been the star of the show for several seasons now, cementing himself as one of the best players in the world. This Rugby Championship has been no different for Savea, who continued to star on both sides of the ball with his ludicrous work-rate featuring in the top five for carries and tackles made in the tournament after two rounds.
Robertson’s starting loose trio provides plenty of intrigue with last year’s World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Wallace Sititi joining Savea and rookie back-rower Simon Parker in a combination that promises plenty of balance and power. Sititi shot to stardom in 2024 with his barnstorming performances beyond his years, but he has been riddled with injuries in 2025. Still, when fit, he has been a real handful on both sides of the ball. His clubmate Parker made his Test debut against Argentina last time out in the Rugby Championship but barely looked out of place in a bruising encounter against a mighty Los Pumas pack. The newly capped All Black throws his imposing frame fearlessly into contact and has the potential to become a classy international and mainstay in the side.
Into the backs and all eyes will be on Emoni Narawa, Rieko Ioane and Will Jordan as Robertson hopes for a far better performance under the high ball than what has been produced in recent times. Narawa’s selection is somewhat left-field but frankly overdue, and he has all the attributes to defuse the high bombs. Meanwhile, Ioane has been shifted back to the wing in the black jersey and has yet to make his mark this year; there is no better time for him to hit top form than now.
Finally, Robertson has made some intriguing selection calls on the bench with the All Blacks clearly looking for an improvement in the final quarter of the Test after struggling in the closing stages against the Boks last year. Tamaiti Williams and Tyrel Lomax are quite simply the best props in Aotearoa and have been backed from the pine, while Robertson has added inexperienced internationals in Fabian Holland and Du’Plessis Kirifi as his replacement back-five forwards, but they are two players who have been superb in the black jersey so far this year. Lastly, the scrum-half injury crisis means that Kyle Preston is in line for a possible Test debut off the bench. The 25-year-old hit the headlines earlier this year when he came off the bench and scored a hat-trick of tries on his Super Rugby debut and went on to play a pivotal role for the Crusaders as they charged to yet another title.
It’s been quite the 18 months for Springboks lock Ruan Nortje, who was overlooked by Erasmus for the 2024 July internationals. A lock crisis ahead of the Rugby Championship earned him a recall and a shot at cementing a place in the squad, and boy did he take it. He went on to feature throughout the tournament, starting twice against New Zealand and hasn’t looked back since. With the injury crisis in the second row now eased, Nortje finds himself as one of the first-choice options and packs down alongside Eben Etzebeth against the All Blacks at Eden Park. The 27-year-old isn’t the most physically imposing Bok lock ever, but he more than makes up for it with his lineout smarts and insane work-rate, which will be pivotal.
Meanwhile, Grant Williams is another who has muscled his way through the crowd to emerge as the first-choice in his position. The scrum-half is blessed with blistering pace but is far from a one-trick pony as he has a sublime kicking game, short and long, that is bound to wreak all kinds of havoc for the All Blacks, particularly with the likes of Etzebeth, Kolbe and Moodie chasing.
Robertson’s charges will also be well aware of the threat that Malcolm Marx poses with the Springboks hooker scoring a try in three of his last four Test matches against New Zealand. No Springbok forward has scored more tries than the hooker, who has crossed five times in his career against the men in black – the joint-most against any opponent (also Australia). The Boks’ lineout has certainly had its issues this year, and it will be up to Marx and Nortje to make improvements in that department. The front-rower also provides a real threat at the breakdown, in fact, no other Bok has been as busy as him in that department during the Rugby Championship, with Marx topping the attacking (42) and defensive ruck (20) entries.
Lastly, Erasmus made the shock call to include one-cap Springbok Ethan Hooker on the bench in the 5-3 split. He joins fellow rising star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and will look to add pace, power and flair in the latter stages of the match. It’s a roll of the dice from the head coach, but Hooker was arguably the form South African player in the URC last season and was lethal when an opportunity arose in attack.
Main head-to-head
On paper, the battle up front looks about as even as you’d expect, with very little separating the two sets of 13 heavies, which means that there is bound to be plenty of pressure on the starting fly-halves, Beauden Barrett and Handre Pollard.
The veteran duo will be tasked with managing proceedings for their respective teams through their tactical kicking, while their place kicking is bound to be a factor, too. Barrett is kicking at an atrocious 54.5% so far in the Rugby Championship, but like Pollard, he is the kind of player who thrives on the biggest stage and is bound to vastly improve that strike rate. If not, the All Blacks do have other placekicking options in the youngest Barrett, Jordie, and Damian McKenzie, who has been included on the bench.
As for Pollard, he has been flawless from the tee in the green and gold jumper this year, converting all 16 shots at goal. However, it’s worth noting that it was with a Rhino ball in South Africa and on Saturday, a Gilbert ball will be used after New Zealand Rugby switched ball providers from Adidas this year. Pollard spent the entire season kicking a Gilbert in the Premiership, so it will be intriguing to see if he can make the switch back seamlessly.
It’s not just off the tee where the two first-fives will play a pivotal role in the showdown as they will be entrusted with marshalling the attack, fronting up the defence and controlling the backfield.
While there are tantalising head-to-heads across the two matchday 23s, it’s hard to go past the battle at number 10 with two greats of the game squaring off.
All Blacks and Springboks snub World Rugby guideline for Eden Park epic
Prediction
No quarter will be given. Every single player will be giving everything they have got in what promises to be a game for the ages. On paper, there is nothing splitting the two proud rugby-playing nations, but the game is not played on paper. As mentioned above, discipline will be crucial. Winning the tiniest of battles, the momentum swings, and capitalising on the slightest sign of weakness will decide it. Saturday’s match sees a so-called ageing Springboks outfit tackle a developing All Blacks side in a game for the ages.
Performing in the clutch will be the deciding factor, and recent evidence suggests that is where the visitors have the slightest of edges in the tight games and have won 10 of their 11 Tests on foreign soil, but one simply cannot disregard the hosts’ record at home against all nations and particularly their most ferocious rivals; it’s a different task entirely. The All Blacks have yet to lose at Eden Park in the professional era, but records are made to be broken when they look indestructible. Even the greatest fortresses have fallen. The question is, will it be 50 and out for the men in black? We believe so, as the Springboks finally end their Eden Park hoodoo and do what 11 other international teams have failed to do in 31 years and beat the All Blacks at their hallowed ground. It won’t be by much, though, a single point or perhaps even three, but it’s insanely tough to call.
Previous results
2025: South Africa won 18-12 in Cape Town
2024: South Africa won 31-27 in Johannesburg
2023: South Africa won 12-11 in Saint-Denis
2023: South Africa won 35-7 in London
2023: New Zealand won 35-20 in Auckland
2022: New Zealand won 35-23 in Johannesburg
2022: South Africa won 26-10 in Mbombela
2021: South Africa won 31-29 on the Gold Coast
2021: New Zealand won 19-17 in Townsville
2019: New Zealand won 23-13 in Yokohama
2019: New Zealand and South Africa drew 16-16 in Wellington
2018: New Zealand won 32-30 in Pretoria
The teams
All Blacks: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Fabian Holland, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Damian McKenzie
Springboks: 15 Willie Le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel (c), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Ethan Hooker
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Date: Saturday, September 6
Kick-off: 19:05 (NZL), 7:05 (GMT), 9:05 (RSA), 4:05 (ARG), 17:05 (AUS)
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (GRU), Jordan Way (RA)
TMO: Brett Cronan (RA)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
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