Rugby Championship: All Blacks vs Springboks LIVE scores

All Blacks vs Springboks: New Zealand and South Africa meet in an all-important Rugby Championship Test in Townsville on Saturday.

All Blacks vs Springboks LIVE scores

All Blacks vs Springboks: Preview

The All Blacks have put in a dominant shift in the Rugby Championship and will obviously take some beating.

Facing them is a Springboks side that has taken a hit to their confidence after being outwitted by Australia two weeks in a row. The pair of defeats leave the Boks needing to win to stay in the Rugby Championship hunt.

The fifth round Rugby Championship clash represents 100 years and 100 matches between the All Blacks and Springboks. Their rivalry is perhaps the greatest the sport has ever known with New Zealand holding the historic edge.

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has recalled the experienced trio of Lood de Jager, Elton Jantjies and Frans Steyn for the Test. Nienaber made five changes to his squad for the Test against the All Blacks, with Trevor Nyakane, named at loosehead prop, set for his 50th Test cap.

De Jager (lock) has completed his return-to-play protocol after suffering a concussion against the Wallabies two weekends ago, and reunites with Eben Etzebeth in the second row, which sees Marvin Orie drop out of the squad.

The other change in the starting lineup is at blindside flank where Kwagga Smith is promoted from the bench in a direct switch with Franco Mostert, who will serve as impact player this week in a rotational switch to manage his workload.

Elton Jantjies and Frans Steyn are the new players amongst the replacements, with Steyn set to provide cover at centre and fullback, and Elton Jantjies at flyhalf, while Herschel Jantjies will cover scrumhalf. Cheslin Kolbe (wing) is still recovering from the knock he took to the leg before the first Test against Australia and could be available for selection next weekend.

“It’s always a massive task to face the All Blacks,” said Nienaber. “They have skillful players who thrive on turnover ball and who know how to capitalise on point-scoring opportunities, so we know that we need to a deliver a quality 80-minute performance against them to turn the corner after two disappointing defeats.”

“Experience will be vital to ensure that we remain focused and calm throughout the match, and players such as Elton and Frans will bring that when they take the field. They have both played and won against the All Blacks, but they will also bring a set of different skills.

“Lood also boasts 51 Test caps, which will be valuable in this match, while has Kwagga has faced them before as well, which gives us a chance to give Franco a well-deserved opportunity to be managed carefully this week after a physically taxing load since the season started.”

“We are fully aware of the challenge that awaits us, and we know what we have to do to stay on the right side of the scoreboard this weekend – strong defence, accurate execution and capitalising on our point-scoring chances will be key,” said Nienaber.

READ: Five epic All Blacks vs Springboks Tests

In a rejigged All Black front row, Joe Moody retains the number one starting jersey and Nepo Laulala is back at tighthead, while Codie Taylor returns at hooker. Props Karl Tu’inukuafe and Ofa Tuungafasi, along with hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho, are front row cover from the bench.

In the second row, the Brodie Retallick returns to partner Scott Barrett, with Patrick Tuipulotu in reserve. In the loose forwards, Akira Ioane is at blindside flanker, captain Ardie Savea is at seven and Luke Jacobson at number eight. Ethan Blackadder is the loose forward impact from the bench.

TJ Perenara again starts at halfback, with Beauden Barrett back in the starting 10 jersey to play in his 97th Test overall and his 15th Test against South Africa. David Havili returns at second five-eighth, Rieko Ioane is again at centre and the starting back three from last week’s Test are retained, with George Bridge again on the left wing, Will Jordan on the right wing and Jordie Barrett at fullback. Halfback Brad Weber, Damian McKenzie and midfielder Quinn Tupaea are the back reserves.

“The whole team is excited at what lies ahead this weekend,” All Blacks Head Coach Ian Foster said. 

“The group is working hard, we have been building our performances and we’ve put ourselves in a great position to win the Fortinet Rugby Championship and that’s really exciting for the team. The fact that it is against South Africa is pretty special.”

The All Blacks are braced for a physical battle up front, as always against the Springboks. 

Commenting on the forwards’ selection, Foster added: “It’s a tough pack to pick at the moment because there are a lot of players putting their hands up and there were some players who played well last week.”

“But we have got some very good combinations that we have worked on since the start of the Championship. It’s great to have experienced players like Joe Moody, Ofa Tuungafasi and Patrick Tuipulotu back. It has given us a great starting pack and a strong bench.”

Foster said the team was looking forward to playing in the 100th Test match, but had a narrow focus this week.

“For us, as a team, we’re trying to zone in on what we want to do in this game. We are all aware of the history and legacy of this match and respect that, but the only way we can do justice to that is to prepare well and focus on what we have to do.

“We’re excited and getting ready for what will be a huge challenge. It will be the first time a number of our guys have played South Africa so they’re excited and ready for it,” Foster said.

Teams: All Blacks vs Springboks

All Blacks

15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 David Havili, 11 George Bridge, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Luke Jacobson, 7 Ardie Savea (captain), 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody

Substitutes: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Ofa Tuungafasi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Ethan Blackadder, 21 Brad Weber, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Quinn Tupaea

Springboks

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Kwagga Smith, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Trevor Nyakane

Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Frans Steyn

MATCH INFORMATION, TV DETAILS, KICK-OFF TIME, LIVE STREAM

All Blacks vs Springboks

Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

Date: Saturday, 25 September, 2021

Kick-off: 09:05 (SAST)

Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)

Assistant Referee 1: Jordan Way (RA)

Assistant Referee 2: Reuben Keane (RA)

TMO: Damon Murphy (RA)

TV: SuperSport

Stream: DStv Now

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