The most highly-anticipated Test match since the Rugby World Cup final gets the \u2018here we go\u2019 treatment as the All Blacks and Springboks collide at the iconic Eden Park Stadium in Auckland.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The storylines are endless. The fixture is mouth-watering. It simply doesn\u2019t get much bigger than this outside of a men\u2019s Rugby World Cup year.<\/p>\n
Rugby\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s storied history stretching back over 100 years.<\/p>\n
Where the game will be won<\/p>\n
It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The Springboks<\/a>\u2018 victory over the Wallabies last time out suggests that the visitors will back their aerial game against the All Blacks<\/a>, particularly considering that it is an area of concern for Scott Robertson\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n To help the All Blacks\u2019 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n South Africa\u2019s breakdown has also been a real problem area in 2025, which the Wallabies exposed, particularly in Johannesburg. Their task won\u2019t be much easier this week with the likes of Ardie Savea and Du\u2019Plessis Kirifi in the All Blacks\u2019 ranks.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Rassie Erasmus predicts a \u2018hellishly competitive\u2019 Eden Park battle and highlights five crucial areas<\/a><\/p>\n Last time they met<\/p>\n What they said<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I took on the job last year, they showed me the fixture list and I said, \u2018It\u2019s been a long time, let\u2019s do it.\u2019 These are the occasions you look forward to as a rugby player, team and country,\u201d he told reporters after naming his team for the encounter.<\/p>\n Where are they now? The last Springboks team to play the All Blacks at Eden Park<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s certainly fair to say that the occasion hasn\u2019t been played down by any means, with ex-All Blacks pivot and now the Boks attack coach Tony Brown setting the tone last week.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s an amazing opportunity for us to go there and take on the challenge; it\u2019s always going to be a tough All Blacks team,\u201d Brown said.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery Test is important. The Rugby Championship<\/a> always comes down to one or two games.<\/p>\n \u201cSo 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s 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 \u2013 so it should make for an amazing game.\u201d<\/p>\n After naming the team for the showdown, Bok boss Erasmus echoed the sentiments of Brown and Robertson.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is obviously going to be a completely different challenge to what we\u2019ve 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat said, we\u2019ve been working hard on the detail we wanted to iron out following the matches against the Wallabies since arriving in Auckland, so it\u2019s now up to us to implement our plans and deliver a performance that we can be proud of.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cThe 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are records on the line for both teams, and there\u2019s 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\u2019s definitely going to be a special match, and both teams will give everything they\u2019ve got out there.\u201d<\/p>\n Zoning in on the key battlegrounds, Robertson highlighted the aerial duel and the collision areas.<\/p>\n \u201cThe aerial game is critical for us to win this year,\u201d he said. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n His counterpart didn\u2019t disagree, stating that it was going to be a competitive fixture in every facet of the game.<\/p>\n \u201cI looked at the two teams selected, and we\u2019re both going with a 5-3 split, and what the two benches bring is very similar. There also hasn\u2019t been a lot between us previously,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve 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\u2019Plessis on the bench \u2013 so the make-up of the replacements is pretty much the same.<\/p>\n \u201cBoth coaching staffs are expecting a really tight game, and I guess it will be the belief at the vital moments, and that\u2019s how it\u2019s 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\u2019s belief and momentum-shifting moments that either team handles the best. I can\u2019t pinpoint it to one or two things. In all areas of the pitch, it\u2019s going to be a hellishly competitive.\u201d<\/p>\n Both coaches also paid tribute to All Blacks star Savea, who will be earning his 100th Test cap for New Zealand.<\/p>\n \u201cPlaying 100 Tests is one of the most special milestones a player can achieve, and we\u2019d like to congratulate Ardie for reaching this feat,\u201d said the Bok coach.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been a true servant to New Zealand rugby, and he deserves all the recognition that comes with that. It also doesn\u2019t get more special than playing at their fortress in such a massive game.\u201d<\/p>\n Robertson added: \u201cArdie 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.<\/p>\n \u201cArdie 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.\u201d<\/p>\n In numbers: The All Blacks\u2019 INSANE 50 game unbeaten run at Eden Park since 1994<\/a><\/p>\n Players to watch<\/p>\n Every blockbuster needs a leading character and for the All Blacks, that\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Robertson\u2019s starting loose trio provides plenty of intrigue with last year\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019Plessis 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.<\/p>\n All Blacks v Springboks combined team: Siya Kolisi misses out but South Africa have the edge for Eden Park showdown<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s 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\u2019t 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Robertson\u2019s 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 \u2013 the joint-most against any opponent (also Australia). The Boks\u2019 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n All Blacks v Springboks teams: Five takeaways as key New Zealand \u2018weakness\u2019 remains but pack could \u2018wreak havoc\u2019 on \u2018unbalanced\u2019 Boks<\/a><\/p>\n Main head-to-head<\/p>\n On paper, the battle up front looks about as even as you\u2019d 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n While there are tantalising head-to-heads across the two matchday 23s, it\u2019s hard to go past the battle at number 10 with two greats of the game squaring off.<\/p>\n