All Blacks v Springboks: Live Commentary on Newstalk ZB

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Author: Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2026, 1:59pm

The score is tied as we head into the third test of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry - can the All Blacks regain the lead?

Newstalk ZB will be bringing you all the action, Elliott Smith and Liam Napier providing live commentary from FNB Stadium in Soweto.

Catch the call live from 3am Sunday.

All Blacks v Springboks – All you need to know

The All Blacks return to Gauteng province for their third test against the Springboks at FNB Stadium in Soweto.

South Africa levelled the series in Cape Town, making this match effectively the decider, even though there is a fourth test in Baltimore.

The Springboks named their starting XV early in the week, with Damian Willemse being ruled out with injury and replaced at fullback by Cheslin Kolbe, while Kurt-Lee Arendse will wear the No 14 shirt.

Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw will be the Springboks’ starting front row, but coach Rassie Erasmus’ decision to swap the trio out an hour before kickoff has raised questions as to whether he might do the same again.

The All Blacks have played at FNB Stadium twice against the Springboks, winning both occasions, which include a 2010 29-22 victory and a dominant 32-16 triumph in October 2012.

The two games played in Johannesburg so far on this tour have also resulted in All Blacks wins as the tourists knocked over the Springboks in the first test at Ellis Park and the Lions at the same venue three days later.

All Blacks v Springboks history

Played – 112

All Blacks won – 64

Springboks won – 44

Draws – 4

All Blacks points scored – 2355

Springboks points scored – 1896

All Blacks v Springboks past five meetings

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

2024 – All Blacks 12 Springboks 18, Cape Town

All Blacks v Springboks line-ups

All Blacks: 1. George Bower, 2. Asafo Aumua, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Tupou Vaa’i, 5. Sam Darry, 6. Peter Lakai, 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. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17. Xavier Numia, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Fabian Holland, 20. Wallace Sititi, 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. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 11. Ethan Hooker, 12. Damian de Allende, 13. Jesse Kriel, 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 15. Cheslin Kolbe

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. Manie Libbok

Form guide (past five matches)

All Blacks:

Lost to South Africa 33-26

Beat Lions 41-35

Beat South Africa 33-16

Beat Bulls 50-19

Beat Sharks 54-0

Springboks:

Beat All Blacks 33-26

Lost to All Blacks 33-16

Beat Argentina 17-10

Beat Wales 43-0

Beat Scotland 42-28

All Blacks v Springboks referee

Georgian Nika Amashukeli will finally take charge of a test on this tour after being ruled out last week with an illness. Australian Angus Gardner, who replaced the Georgian, will now be an assistant for the third test. Amashukeli has not been a good omen for the All Blacks against the Springboks as he had the whistle for their record 43-10 in Wellington at the hands of the South Africans.