All Blacks v Springboks: Live Commentary on Newstalk ZB

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Author: Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2026, 1:36pm

After back-to-back losses against the Springboks, the All Blacks have one last chance to level the series.

They're heading stateside for the final test in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry, clashing at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

Newstalk ZB will be bringing you all the action, Elliott Smith providing live commentary of the final clash from 9am Sunday.

All you need to know

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour heads to Baltimore as the All Blacks look to level the series and come home with half the trophy.

In a much-changed team from the third test, Richie Mo’unga will pull on the No 10 jersey while Codie Taylor assumes the captaincy in Ardie Savea’s absence.

In the forward pack, de Groot, Taylor, Newell, Tuipulotu and Blackadder come in for Bower, Aumua, Lomax, Holland, Jacobson and Savea, with Vaa’i and Lakai taking on positional changes.

The Springboks have tinkered slightly with their starting XV as Damian Willemse replaces Cheslin Kolbe at fullback and Morne van den Berg begins at halfback in place of Cobus Reinach.

The All Blacks will hope to stop South Africa from winning three in a row over them, which last happened in 2024.

The Springboks have had the better of the All Blacks since 2021, winning nine of the 13 fixtures played since then but having the test in the United States could prove to be a positive omen for New Zealand, winning four of the five tests they’ve played in the country.

All Blacks v Springboks history

Played – 113

All Blacks won – 64

Springboks won – 45

Draws – 4

All Blacks points scored – 2379

Springboks points scored – 1925

All Blacks v Springboks past five meetings

2026 – All Blacks 24 Springboks 29, Soweto

2026 – All Blacks 26 Springboks 33, Cape Town

2026 – All Blacks 33 Springboks 16, Johannesburg

2025 – All Blacks 10 Springboks 43, Wellington

2025 – All Blacks 24 Springboks 17, Auckland

All Blacks v Springboks line-ups

All Blacks: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor (c), 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 5. Sam Darry, 6. Tupou Vaa’i, 7. Ethan Blackadder, 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. Josh Moorby, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Will Jordan, 15. Damian McKenzie

Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Xavier Numia, 18. Tyrel Lomax, 19. Josh Lord, 20. Wallace Sititi, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. Rieko Ioane, 23. Beauden Barrett

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. Morne van den Berg, 10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 11. Ethan Hooker, 12. Damian de Allende, 13. Jesse Kriel, 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 15. Damian Willemse.

Reserves: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Gerhard Steenekamp, 18. Thomas du Toit, 19. Lood de Jager, 20. Andre Esterhuizen, 21. Cameron Hanekom, 22. Cobus Reinach, 23. Manie Libbok.

Form guide (past five matches)

All Blacks:

Lost to South Africa 29-24

Lost to South Africa 33-26

Beat Lions 41-35

Beat South Africa 33-16

Beat Bulls 50-19

Springboks:

Beat All Blacks 29-24

Beat All Blacks 33-26

Lost to All Blacks 33-16

Beat Argentina 17-10

Beat Wales 43-0

All Blacks v Springboks referee

England’s Karl Dickson takes centre stage for the tour’s final game after he refereed its opener, with the All Blacks coming out on top against the Stormers in that one but receiving three yellow cards in the contest. All Blacks fans will be glad to know that the only time Dickson has refereed an All Blacks test against the Springboks before this resulted in a 24-17 victory for New Zealand at Eden Park.