Springboks v All Blacks: How to watch the Greatest Rivalry Test series opener from anywhere in the world
Springboks captain Pieter-Steph du Toit and All Blacks skipper Ardie Savea
The Springboks and All Blacks square off at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday in the opening Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series Test match.
In a throwback to the old traditional tours, the two nations collide in South Africa in a Test series for the first time since 1996, with the venue of the famous 1995 World Cup playing host to the fixture.
How to watch
The match will be shown on SuperSport TV in South Africa, with a delayed broadcast on SABC Sport at 19:00. Sky Sport NZ will broadcast the game live in New Zealand while Stan Sport and Nine Sport hold the rights in Australia.
Fans wanting to tune in from the United Kingdom and Ireland can do so through Sky Sports, while the remainder of the available broadcasters are listed in the article below for coverage in the United States, Canada and Japan included.
Team news
While the All Blacks have welcomed back captain Ardie Savea for the clash in Johannesburg, the Springboks are without their regular skipper Siya Kolisi for the Test series opener, with Pieter-Steph du Toit taking over the leadership role. Du Toit is joined in the back-row by Paul de Villiers, who fills Kolisi’s void, while Jasper Wiese starts in the number eight jersey.
Eben Etzebeth and Ruan Nortje combine in the locks whilst Grant Williams and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu are the starting half-backs. Damian de Allende earns his 100th cap for the Springboks in the number 12 jersey and starts alongside Jesse Kriel in the centres. Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse are the two wingers with Damian Willemse at full-back.
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As for the All Blacks, Dave Rennie has named Cam Roigard and Will Jordan in his starting backline with Savea in the pack – the trio making their first appearances of the tour. Jordan fills the number 14 jersey with Damian McKenzie at full-back – who is also returning from injury. Josh Moorby is the other starting winger with Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea in the centres.
Luke Jacobson and Tupou Vaa’i join Savea in the loose forwards while Fabian Holland and Josh Lord are the starting locks. The front-rowers for the All Blacks are: Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor and Ethan de Groot.
The teams
Springboks: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Grant Williams 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (c), 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok
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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)
How to watch: Sky Sports (UK and Ireland), Sky Sport / Sky Sport Now (New Zealand), SuperSport (South Africa), Stan Sport / Nine Sport (Australia), RugbyPass TV (USA), Premier Sports (Canada), WOWOW (Japan), ESPN Sur (Central/South America and Caribbean)
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (RFU), Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
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