All Blacks v Springboks: Live Commentary on Newstalk ZB

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Author: Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date: Fri, 28 Aug 2026, 1:53pm

After last weekend's dominant win over the Springboks at Ellis Park, the All Blacks are angling for a repeat performance.

They've maintained their winning streak leading into Sunday morning's clash at Cape Town's DHL Stadium, but will this be the end of it?

Newstalk ZB will be bringing you all the action, Elliott Smith and Gregor Paul providing live commentary from 3am Sunday.

All you need to know

The All Blacks have the chance to secure back-to-back wins over the Springboks for the first time since July 2023.

A 33-16 victory for the touring side gave the Springboks their worst loss under Rassie Erasmus and prompted changes including the return of Siya Kolisi as captain.

Cobus Reinach and Handre Pollard will wear the No 9 and 10 jerseys this time, while Ethan Hooker replaces Cheslin Kolbe on the wing.

It’s a similar case for the All Blacks, who have made two injury-enforced changes with prop Ethan de Groot and lock Josh Lord unavailable due to concussion protocols.

They are replaced in the starting side by George Bower and Simon Parker, respectively, with Tupou Vaa’i switching back to lock.

The only other change in the run-on team is Leroy Carter being elevated to the left wing in a straight switch with Josh Moorby, who moves to the bench.

The All Blacks were forced to come back from 18-points down against the Lions midweek in their last match of the tour against a provincial side, fielding a completely changed 23 from their previous test victory.

All Blacks v Springboks history

Played – 111

All Blacks won – 64

Springboks won – 43

Draws – 4

All Blacks points scored – 2329

Springboks points scored – 1863

All Blacks v Springboks last five meetings

2026 - All Blacks 33 Springboks 16, Johannesburg

2025 – All Blacks 10 Springboks 43, Wellington

2025 – All Blacks 24 Springboks 17, Auckland

2024 – All Blacks 12 Springboks 18, Cape Town

2024 – All Blacks 27 Springboks 31, Johannesburg

All Blacks v Springboks line-ups

All Blacks: 1. George Bower, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Fabian Holland, 5. Tupou Vaa’i, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Luke Jacobson, 8. Ardie Savea (c), 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Ruben Love, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Quinn Tupaea, 14. Will Jordan, 15. Damian McKenzie.

Bench: 16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Xavier Numia, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Peter Lakai, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. Anton Lienert-Brown, 23. Josh Moorby.

Springboks: 1. Ox Nche, 2. Malcolm Marx, 3. Wilco Louw, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Ruan Nortje, 6. Siya Kolisi (c), 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8. Jasper Wiese, 9. Cobus Reinach, 10. Handre Pollard, 11. Ethan Hooker, 12. Damian de Allende, 13. Jesse Kriel, 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 15. Damian Willemse

Bench: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Gerhard Steenekamp, 18. Thomas du Toit, 19. Lood de Jager, 20. Andre Esterhuizen, 21. Cameron Hanekom, 22. Morne van den Berg, 23. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Form guide (past five matches)

All Blacks:

Beat Lions 41-35

Beat South Africa 33-16

Beat Bulls 50-19

Beat Sharks 54-0

Beat Stormers 38-21

Springboks:

Lost to All Blacks 33-16

Beat Argentina 17-10

Beat Wales 43-0

Beat Scotland 42-28

Beat England 45-21

All Blacks v Springboks referee

Australian Angus Gardner takes the whistle of this test as a late replacement for Georgian Nika Amashukeli, who was unavailable due to illness. Amashukeli will now instead referee next week’s third test in Johannesburg, replacing Gardner, who was scheduled for that contest but will now be one of Amashukeli’s assistants for the fixture.