The Springboks, All Blacks, and all rugby fans are undoubtedly fired up for this Saturday’s battle at Eden Park, which promises to be a headline fixture in the world game for 2025.
In the South African camp, it has been a nervy week as Siya Kolisi has been “touch and go” in terms of availability, but he has now been cleared to start in one of four changes to the run-on XV from the last Test against the Wallabies.
Meanwhile, talented Emoni Narawa replaces Sevu Reece on the right wing in one of three changes to the All Blacks’ starting line-up, which includes a start at scrumhalf for Finlay Christie after a raft of injuries in this position.
The match kicks off at 09:05 (SA time) and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
HERE IS ALL THE MATCH INFORMATION FOR THE SPRINGBOKS AND ALL BLACKS
Springboks – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel (c), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Handré 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.
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.
Date: Saturday, September 6
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 09:05 SA time (19.05 in Auckland)
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)
Stats and facts:
Springbok record against New Zealand:
Played: 108, Won: 42, Lost: 62, Drawn: 4. Points for: 1 790; Points against: 2 235; Tries scored: 173; Tries conceded: 244. Win %: 38.8%.
Miscellaneous:
- The Springboks will go in search of their fifth victory in a row against the All Blacks when the teams meet at Eden Park, after winning their last four matches against their arch-rivals and clinching the Freedom Cup against them last season for the first time since 2009.
- The Springboks’ longest winning streak against the All Blacks was six matches in a row between 1937 and 1949.
- The last time the Springboks defeated the All Blacks at Eden Park was in 1937 – a long-standing record they will be determined to end this weekend – while at the same time ending the hosts’ winning run at the ground since 1994.
- Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth will extend his record as the most capped Bok of all time to 136 Tests.
- Springbok flanker Siya Kolisi will play his 95th Test match, leaving him only five matches short of becoming the ninth Springbok centurion in the history of the game.
- Willie le Roux will earn his 101st Test match after striking the 100th mark against Italy in Gqeberha in the Castle Lager Incoming Series earlier this year.
- The centre pairing of Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende will extend their record of playing the most Tests together in the midfield to 39.
- Jesse Kriel will lead the Springboks for the third time in a Test after taking charge of the team against Italy in the Castle Lager Incoming Series in July and Australia in their last Castle Lager Rugby Championship match in Cape Town.
- The total Test caps in the Springbok starting line-up is 939 – the fourth highest combined total in SA rugby history.
- There are 434 caps in the backline, with 505 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 206 caps.
- The average caps per player in the backline is 62, the forwards 63, while the players on the bench average 26.
WHAT IS YOUR SCORE PREDICTION?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211.
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
