All Blacks team: Star trio recover from injury to face Springboks as Dave Rennie makes big call up front
Damian McKenzie and Cam Roigard in action for the All Blacks.
All Blacks trio Will Jordan, Cam Roigard and Damian McKenzie have been declared fit to start the hugely anticipated Test against the Springboks at Ellis Park.
It will be a first appearance on tour for Jordan and Roigard, who have been nursing issues since the end of the Nations Championship.
McKenzie, meanwhile, has recovered from a twisted ankle he suffered against the Sharks and will take his place at full-back.
He is joined by Jordan in the back three with the other wing spot being taken by Josh Moorby after the Hurricanes man impressed against the Bulls.
Holland’s remarkable comeback
The other key news comes at lock where Fabian Holland takes his place alongside Josh Lord in the second-row as Patrick Tuipulotu misses out.
Tuipulotu provided vital ballast against Ireland but All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has decided not to opt for his extra power against the Springboks behemoths.
Instead, 2025 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Holland comes into the XV having shown incredible form since recovering from injury.
He missed the entirety of the Super Rugby Pacific season and the Nations Championship but was outstanding in the victories over the Stormers and Bulls.
With Lord and Holland at lock, that means Tupou Vaa’i remains at blindside flanker after shining against Ireland last month and he combines with Luke Jacobson and captain Ardie Savea in the back-row.
That front five will be supporting props Tyrel Lomax and Ethan de Groot, and experienced hooker Codie Taylor.
Behind the scrum, Ruben Love unsurprisingly retains his place at fly-half alongside Roigard and that Hurricanes playmaking axis is completed by inside centre Jordie Barrett, with Quinn Tupaea completing the XV.
No All Blacks Bomb Squad
Meanwhile, on the bench, there were doubts around Xavier Numia and Cortez Ratima and neither have made it, which means George Bower and Kyle Preston are among the replacements.
Asafo Aumua, Fletcher Newell, Anton Segner and Peter Lakai provide the other forward cover with Rennie going for a 5-3 split.
Anton Lienert-Brown and Leroy Carter join Preston as the backline replacements as both Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane miss out.
“After all the build up and anticipation, our whole touring squad is excited to get this first Test underway,” the All Blacks boss said.
“We have selected a balanced mix of big match, experienced players and younger players who have earned the right to play in this first Test.
“The first three franchise games have exposed our newer players to the way South African teams play and have been fantastic in helping us build combinations and develop the game we want to play.
“We know the Test series will be a huge step up. We’re well aware of what the Springboks will bring to the contest and the pressure that will come to bear. They are number one in the world, playing at their spiritual home in front of their passionate fans, so we will have to be at our very best on Saturday.”
All Blacks to face the Springboks
All Blacks: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (c), 7 Luke Jacobson, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 George Bower, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Anton Segner, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Leroy Carter
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Date: Saturday, 22 August, 2026
Kick-off: 17:10 (local SAST), 16:10 (UK), 17:10 (France), 17:10 (South Africa), 01:10 (23 August, AEST), 03:10 (23 August, New Zealand), 12:10 (Argentina), 00:10 (23 August, JST), 11:10 (EDT)
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (RFU), Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)