The All Blacks haven’t played the Sharks in their modern form, but they did come away with positive results against their predecessor Natal.
New Zealand have never lost a game to the provincial side, but drew their 1960 fixture 6-6.
All Blacks v Natal history
Played – 6
All Blacks won – 5
Natal won – 0
Draws – 1
All Blacks points scored – 159
Natal points scored – 55
All Blacks v Natal all meetings
1992 – All Blacks 43 Natal 25, Durban
1976 – All Blacks 42 Natal 13, Durban
1970 – All Blacks 29 Natal 8, Durban
1960 – All Blacks 6 Natal 6, Durban
1949 – All Blacks 8 Natal 0, Durban
1928 – All Blacks 31 Natal 3, Pietermaritzburg
All Blacks v Sharks line-ups
All Blacks: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Josh Lord, 5. Sam Darry, 6. Tupou Vaa’i, 7. Luke Jacobson (c), 8. Wallace Sititi 9. Kyle Preston, 10. Ruben Love, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Quinn Tupaea, 14. Fehi Fineanganofo, 15. Damian McKenzie
Bench: 16. Bradley Slater, 17. Ollie Norris, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Ethan Blackadder, 20. Semisi Ta’eiloa, 21. Cam Roigard, 22. Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23. Emoni Narawa
Sharks: 1. Nemo Roelofse, 2. Eduan Swart, 3. Vincent Koch, 4. Hendre Stassen, 5. Emile van Heerden, 6. Phepsi Buthelezi, 7. Manu Tshituka, 8. Nick Hatton (c), 9. Bradley Davids, 10. Vusi Moyo, 11. Litelihle Bester, 12. Murray Koster, 13. Jurenzo Julius, 14. Donovan Don, 15. Zekhethelo Siyaya
Bench: 16. Liam van Wyk, 17. Rambo Kubekha, 18. Simphiwe Ngobese, 19. Vincent Tshituka, 20. Matt Romao, 21. Ivan van Zyl, 22. Luan Giliomee, 23. Ma’a Nonu
Form guide (past five matches)
All Blacks:
Sharks:
Beat Boland Kavaliers 19-12
Lost to Stormers 36-28
Lost to Cheetahs 43-21
Beat Pumas 26-24
Beat Zebre 54-19
All Blacks v Sharks referee
Englishman Matthew Carley will take charge of this tour fixture and could give an insight in to how he might referee the first test of the series on August 23. The All Blacks have struggled against South Africa when Carley has the whistle, losing all three times he’s refereed their matches against the Springboks.
All Blacks v Sharks TAB odds
All Blacks $1.01, Sharks $15.00
All Blacks 1-12 $7.50
All Blacks 13+ $1.10
Draw $61
Sharks 1-12 $18.00
Sharks +13 $31.00
All Blacks v Sharks – how to follow the action
For live commentary of the All Blacks’ tour game against Sharks, join Elliott Smith on Newstalk ZB and iHeartRadio.
The Alternative Commentary Collective will also be providing commentary on their iHeartRadio stream.
You can watch the game on Sky Sport 1 and it will be livestreaming on Sky Sport Now.
You can also find live updates at nzherald.co.nz.
Listen to Elliott Smith’s live commentary on Newstalk ZB Sport and iHeartRadio, or join the Alternative Commentary Collective on iHeartRadio and Radio Hauraki.