Damian de Allende will become just the 10th player in Springbok history to earn 100 Test caps when South Africa host the All Blacks in the opening match of the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series at Ellis Park on Saturday, with Pieter-Steph du Toit leading the side in the absence of injured captain Siya Kolisi.

Key team news:

• Centre Damian de Allende wins his 100th cap, becoming only the 10th Springbok to reach the milestone
• Pieter-Steph du Toit captains the side in his 99th Test — one short of his own century
• Siya Kolisi is omitted despite training this week, with Paul de Villiers preferred at blindside flanker
• Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Eben Etzebeth are the only two starters retained from the Argentina Test
• Prop Ox Nche returns from injury, with Wilco Louw selected at tighthead ahead of Thomas du Toit, who misses the matchday 23 entirely
• Grant Williams partners Feinberg-Mngomezulu at half-back, with Manie Libbok the only specialist back on the bench alongside Cobus Reinach
• Seven players from the Buenos Aires squad are named among the replacements in a 6-2 bench split
• Etzebeth extends his record as the most capped Springbok to 143 Tests

The team named by coach Rassie Erasmus blends players who remained behind in Johannesburg to prepare specifically for the series with those who featured in the 17-10 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires two weeks ago. The majority of the starting XV — including du Toit — began their preparations at altitude last week while the rest of the squad was in South America.

Damian De Allende raises his bat as the #Springboks name a settled side for the opening match of #RugbysGreatestRivalry – more here: https://t.co/wnA3URrOkM 🤩

Limited tickets available here: https://t.co/uBngZcGS7g 🎟️

Stream every Bok Test LIVE on DStv: https://t.co/qFpxGWMbDp… pic.twitter.com/sVXjEgeYiq

— Springboks (@Springboks) August 20, 2026

De Allende’s milestone is the emotional centrepiece of the selection. The powerful inside centre made his international debut against Argentina in 2014 and has since established himself as one of the finest midfielders of his generation, earning winners’ medals at the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups. He lines up alongside Jesse Kriel in a centre partnership that carries 189 caps between them.

Erasmus was clearly delighted for his centurion. “We are all very excited for Damian, and to achieve this milestone in this series makes it even more special,” the Springbok coach said. “He’s a great team man, and servant to the game, so we hope we can make it a memorable day for him. That said, his focus all week has only been on this match, and he will certainly not let the occasion shadow what he has to do on the field.”

The most significant selection debate surrounds the blindside flanker position. Kolisi, who limped off with a hamstring injury after just 25 minutes of the Argentina Test, trained well this week but has been left out in favour of the 23-year-old de Villiers, the exciting Stormers loose forward who has been in outstanding form.

Erasmus explained the rationale. “Siya trained well with us this week, and although we could have selected him for this clash, we thought it would be best to select Paul for this weekend’s game,” he said. “We are playing four Tests against the All Blacks and Paul has been playing well, so we are excited to give him a chance this weekend in what will be his first Test match against New Zealand, while taking a precautionary approach to Siya’s return.

“We have a solid group of players, and each one of them deserves their places in the squad, so we will approach team selection week by week.”

De Villiers joins du Toit and Jasper Wiese in a formidable loose trio, with du Toit captaining the side from openside in his 99th Test — leaving the flanker just one appearance short of joining the exclusive club of Springbok centurions himself.

The front row sees Ox Nche make a welcome return from injury at loosehead, partnering Wilco Louw and Malcolm Marx. Louw’s selection at tighthead is one of the more notable calls, with Thomas du Toit — who started against Argentina — missing the matchday 23 entirely and the six-cap Zachary Porthen named as bench cover instead. Etzebeth, who played the full 80 minutes in Buenos Aires, reunites with Ruan Nortje in the engine room and will extend his record as the most capped Springbok to 143 Tests.

Behind the scrum, Feinberg-Mngomezulu — one of just two starters retained from Argentina alongside Etzebeth — takes the number 10 jersey alongside Grant Williams at scrum-half. The back three of Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Damian Willemse at fullback is a combination dripping with attacking threat. The starting backline carries 373 caps between its seven members.

Erasmus has retained the same replacement front row from Buenos Aires — Wessels, Steenekamp and Porthen — with Cobus Wiese, Andre Esterhuizen and Marco van Staden completing the forward cover. Reinach and Libbok are the two specialist backs, maintaining the 6-2 bench split that has become a Springbok hallmark.

The Springbok coach left no doubt about the scale of the challenge. “They are a quality team and they’re very well coached, so we are preparing for an 80-minute grind,” Erasmus said. “They have a well-rounded squad with physical forwards and an exciting backline, so we have to be sharp and accurate in our execution from the outset.

“Many of the matches between the sides have come down to the wire, so it’s important that we use the chances we create and ensure that our discipline is on point. It’s going to be a big battle, but the entire squad is excited about the match and are looking forward to it.”

The series marks the first time since 1996 that the All Blacks have embarked on a traditional rugby tour to South Africa. The Springboks have won five of the last six encounters between the sides dating back to August 2023, including the Rugby World Cup final, and last met the All Blacks in Johannesburg in 2024, winning 31-27. The starting XV carries a combined 850 caps — 477 among the forwards and 373 in the backline.

Springboks:
15. Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers, 52 caps)
14. Cheslin Kolbe (DHL Stormers, 50 caps)
13. Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles, 90 caps)
12. Damian de Allende (Wild Knights, 99 caps)
11. Kurt-Lee Arendse (Mitsubishi Dynaboars, 32 caps)
10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers, 20 caps)
9. Grant Williams (Kobe Steelers, 30 caps)
8. Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks, 46 caps)
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (c) (Toyota Verblitz, 98 caps)
6. Paul de Villiers (DHL Stormers, 3 caps)
5. Ruan Nortje (Kubota Spears, 20 caps)
4. Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks, 142 caps)
3. Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers, 31 caps)
2. Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears, 89 caps)
1. Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks, 48 caps)

Replacements:
16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls, 13 caps)
17. Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls, 19 caps)
18. Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers, 6 caps)
19. Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls, 5 caps)
20. Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks, 31 caps)
21. Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls, 36 caps)
22. Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers, 53 caps)
23. Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners, 30 caps)

Match details: South Africa v New Zealand, Ellis Park, Johannesburg. Saturday 22 August, 17:10 (local time). Live on SuperSport.

Dave Rennie has named his strongest available side for the first Test of the Greatest Rivalry series against the Springboks at Ellis Park on Saturday, with Fabian Holland the most notable selection after the Dutch-born lock forced his way into the starting second row a week ahead of schedule. Captain Ardie Savea, halfback Cam Roigard, wing Will Jordan and fullback Damian McKenzie all return to make their first appearances of the tour.

Key squad news:

• Fabian Holland wins starting lock berth ahead of Patrick Tuipulotu after outstanding tour form
• Captain Ardie Savea, Cam Roigard, Will Jordan and Damian McKenzie all return to make their first tour appearances
• McKenzie declared fit after ankle injury; starts at fullback
• Savea and Codie Taylor both earn their 110th Test caps
• Anton Segner and Peter Lakai named as a two-man loose forward impact unit on the bench
• Kyle Preston wins backup halfback role; Leroy Carter edges out Fehi Fineanganofo as outside back cover
• Josh Moorby and Anton Segner to face the Springboks for the first time

Holland’s inclusion alongside Josh Lord is the headline talking point. The 23-year-old, who stands 2.04 metres and weighs 124kg, missed the entire Super Rugby Pacific season and the three Nations Championship victories in July while recovering from shoulder surgery. But his two tour starts against the Stormers and Bulls produced performances of such ferocity — multiple lineout steals, an insatiable work-rate and a willingness to physically impose himself — that Rennie has accelerated his return by a week, displacing veteran Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu.

“After all the build-up and anticipation, our whole touring squad is excited to get this first Test underway,” Rennie said. “We have selected a balanced mix of big-match, experienced players and younger players who have earned the right to play in this first Test.”

The return of four key figures transforms the complexion of the side. Savea, who was granted an extended rest in New Zealand and only joined the squad ten days before the Test, resumes the captaincy at number eight. He and hooker Codie Taylor will both earn their 110th Test caps, with the match representing Savea’s 18th against South Africa and Taylor’s 17th.

Roigard and Jordan, neither of whom has featured on tour due to calf and back injuries respectively, slot straight into the starting XV. Roigard’s return at halfback is particularly significant — Saturday will be just his second appearance against the Springboks, having only faced South Africa off the bench in a warm-up match ahead of the 2023 World Cup. Jordan completes a back three of fullbacks alongside McKenzie and the polished Josh Moorby, who will face the Springboks for the first time.

McKenzie’s fitness was the final piece of the puzzle. The All Blacks had been “sweating on” their first-choice fullback after he rolled his ankle against the Sharks in Durban and missed the Bulls match, but he has trained well enough this week to convince the selectors he is ready. His ankle will face an immediate test with the Springboks certain to pepper him with a high-ball assault.

The remainder of the starting XV mirrors the combination that dismantled Ireland 40-21 at Eden Park in July. Ruben Love and Roigard reunite in the halves, Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea form the midfield, and the loose forward trio of Tupou Vaa’i at blindside, Luke Jacobson at openside and Savea at number eight is unchanged. The front row of Ethan de Groot, Taylor and Tyrel Lomax — who returned from an infected cut to start impressively against the Bulls — is the All Blacks’ most experienced available combination.

The bench carries a 5-3 forward-back split, with two loose forwards in Anton Segner and Peter Lakai providing the kind of high-energy impact that could prove decisive at altitude. Segner’s outstanding man-of-the-match performance against the Bulls, capped by multiple breakdown turnovers and 13 tackles, has earned him a place among the replacements alongside the dynamic Lakai. Both will face the Springboks for the first time.

Kyle Preston has won the backup halfback role after Cortez Ratima suffered a knee injury against the Bulls. The former roofer from Wellington impressed during his two tour starts and edges out the newly arrived Noah Hotham. Leroy Carter takes the outside back cover spot after a six-try tour across the three franchise fixtures, with George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Asafo Aumua and Anton Lienert-Brown completing the reserves.

“The first three franchise games have exposed our newer players to the way South African teams play and have been fantastic in helping us build combinations and develop the game we want to play,” Rennie said. “We know the Test series will be a huge step up. We’re well aware of what the Springboks will bring to the contest and the pressure that will come to bear. They are number one in the world, playing at their spiritual home in front of their passionate fans, so we will have to be at our very best on Saturday.”

The All Blacks have played South Africa 110 times, winning 63 to the Springboks’ 43 with four draws. At Ellis Park, the ledger reads ten victories to South Africa and six to New Zealand. The two nations are ranked first and second in the world and have combined to win seven of the ten Rugby World Cups, including two finals played directly between them — South Africa’s extra-time triumph at this very ground in 1995 and their one-point victory at the Stade de France in 2023.

This is the 13th Test series between the great rivals. The ledger stands at five apiece, with two drawn. New Zealand won the last three — at home in 1981 and 1994, and in South Africa in 1996, when Sean Fitzpatrick’s ‘Incomparables’ claimed the All Blacks’ first away series victory. Thirty years on, Rennie’s men will attempt to repeat that feat. The phony war is over. The real test begins now.

All Blacks team for the first Test

Ellis Park, Johannesburg. Saturday 22 August, kick-off 5.10pm local time (3.10am Sunday 23 August NZT).

1. Ethan de Groot (43 caps), 2. Codie Taylor (109), 3. Tyrel Lomax (51), 4. Josh Lord (15), 5. Fabian Holland (12), 6. Tupou Vaa’i (47), 7. Luke Jacobson (27), 8. Ardie Savea (c) (109), 9. Cam Roigard (20), 10. Ruben Love (8), 11. Josh Moorby (2), 12. Jordie Barrett (81), 13. Quinn Tupaea (26), 14. Will Jordan (57), 15. Damian McKenzie (77).

Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua (22), 17. George Bower (26), 18. Fletcher Newell (37), 19. Anton Segner (2), 20. Peter Lakai (10), 21. Kyle Preston (1), 22. Anton Lienert-Brown (90), 23. Leroy Carter (7).

Ollie Norris has become the fourth All Black to be sent home from the Greatest Rivalry Tour after sustaining a cartilage injury in his knee. The Chiefs prop is expected to be sidelined for approximately six weeks, with a replacement front-rower to be announced in due course.

In a separate development, Canterbury and Crusaders halfback Noah Hotham has been called into the squad as injury cover after Cortez Ratima suffered a knee injury during the All Blacks’ 50-19 victory over the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. Ratima’s injury is still being assessed, casting doubt over his involvement in Sunday’s first Test against the Springboks at Ellis Park. Hotham is due to arrive in South Africa on Tuesday.

Norris, 26, came off the bench in the opening two tour matches against the Stormers and Sharks but missed the Bulls fixture. While he was unlikely to start the first Test, with Ethan de Groot firmly established at loosehead, his departure further thins the All Blacks’ front-row depth at a time when Tamaiti Williams is already unavailable through long-term injury. Xavier Numia, George Bower and the uncapped Siale Lauaki are the remaining loosehead options in the touring party.

Norris joins hooker George Bell (calf strain), centre Billy Proctor (fractured shoulder blade) and winger Caleb Clarke (ruptured shoulder tendon) in being ruled out of the tour. Bell and Proctor were replaced by Bradley Slater and Richie Mo’unga respectively, while no replacement was called for Clarke.

Hotham’s call-up represents a swift change of fortune for the 23-year-old, who was a surprise omission from the original 44-man touring squad when head coach Dave Rennie opted to take just three halfbacks and favoured the less-experienced Kyle Preston over the Crusaders starter. Hotham has three Test caps, all earned under previous coach Scott Robertson, and arrives match fit after playing all three of Tasman’s NPC fixtures, including Sunday’s 50-35 victory over Counties Manukau.

If Ratima is ruled out of the first Test, Preston is likely to take his place on the bench behind Cam Roigard. The first-choice halfback is yet to feature on tour after being withdrawn from the Sharks match with a calf issue, but Rennie said after the Bulls match that he expected Roigard to be available for the opening Test.

The halfback situation adds to a growing injury ward that also includes fullback Damian McKenzie (ankle) and wing Will Jordan (back), neither of whom has played on tour. Rennie said after the Bulls match he was confident Jordan would be fit but was “sweating on” McKenzie.

The All Blacks face the Springboks in the first Test at Ellis Park in Johannesburg this Sunday (3am NZT).