Round 108 of Rugby’s greatest rivalry is less than 24 hours away from kickoff in South Africa’s Mother City of Cape Town.

One week after a humdinger in Johannesburg, World Rugby’s historic Big 2 will do it all again in a crucial clash for both sides.

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For the world champions, a victory over the All Blacks will all but seal a fifth Rugby Championship (formerly Tri-Nations). A win for the All Blacks will give their campaign an admittedly faint pulse heading into the final two rounds.

South Africa Rugby, All Blacks Team News

Starting with the hosts, head coach Rassie Erasmus has made seven changes to his side, two of which are positional.

Canan Moodie (wing) and Jaden Hendrikse (scrumhalf) make their first appearances in the Springbok jersey since the 2023 Rugby World Cup on Saturday, while double RWC winners Willie le Roux (fullback) and Lukhanyo Am (utility back) also return to the matchday 23 to face New Zealand in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship in Cape Town.

Grant Williams (scrumhalf) earns his first start of the season in partnership with Handre Pollard (fly-half), who is promoted from the bench, along with Eben Etzebeth (lock), while Le Roux and Moodie come straight into the XV.

The All Blacks starting team named to play South Africa in Cape Town has four changes, including one on the bench.  

In the backs, Cortez Ratima gains his second test start at halfback, with wings Mark Tele’a and Sevu Reece forming a new look back three with fullback Will Jordan. Caleb Clarke was unavailable due to a back injury sustained during last weekend’s test at Ellis Park, while Jordan shifts from the right wing to fullback for the first time in 2024.

There is one change to the starting forward pack, with Wallace Sititi set to play his second test as blindside flanker, instead of Ethan Blackadder, whose tight hamstring saw him unavailable for selection. Luke Jacobson takes his place on a reserves bench bolstered by TJ Perenara and Beauden Barrett's vast experience.

Words From The Camp

Speaking ahead of the fixture, Erasmus said his team is expecting a backlash from the All Blacks.

“It would be fantastic to achieve that as a team, but if you look too far ahead it comes back to bite you,” Erasmus said. “The focus for us all week is to try to deliver the best possible performance we can against New Zealand and to correct the wrongs of last week.

“New Zealand have not been the best team in the world for some many years for nothing. They’re a formidable team, and they’ve shown in the past against us that you never write them off. We saw how they bounced back against Argentina after losing their first match of the tournament.

“They’ll also be motivated by the fact that Cape Town has been a good hunting ground for them; they’ll be inspired to make a strong statement this week.

“Like us, they’ve a lot to play for, so we know it’ll be as intense and as tight as it ever has been between us. It’s going to take another hard grind for the full 80 minutes.”

Scott Robertson, on the other hand, said his team was enjoying being back in Cape Town, a city where they have plenty of support.

“It’s been great to feel the support in Cape Town this week, and we’re looking forward to playing in a city with a rich rugby history and deep support for the All Blacks.

“TJ and Beauden will add significant experience and leadership when they run out, and the 23 selected will put in a performance that our fans, both here in Cape Town and at home in New Zealand, will be proud of.”

Springboks Vs. All Blacks Key Matchup

Given the quality of the two sides, it is unsurprising that individual matchups galore could fill this segment multiple times over.

Yet, the battle of the back three is an interesting prospect, given both sides' wholesale changes in that department.

As the All Blacks shift out their veteran fullback in Beauden Barrett, the Boks recall theirs in Willie Le Roux. 

Facing the double World Cup winner is the uber-exciting Will Jordan, who, up until last weekend, had a strike rate of one try per test across his 33-test career. 

In isolation, the change from Barrett to Jordan may not seem significant, but when one takes a step back and assesses the situation, it feels like a significant sea change in the All Blacks backfield.

Depending on which circles one rolls in, there has been a long-held belief that Jordan could become the best fullback in World Rugby with a consistent run. Thus, this weekend in Cape Town, the 26-year-old could become the man possessing the shirt.

On the wide flanks, one of South Africa’s great young hopes returns to the starting lineup for the first in this year’s Championship, as Canan Moodie slots into the No. 14 shirt. Staring down the 21-year-old, All Blacks flyer Sevu Reece is the lone survivor in the back three and will look to outfox his less experienced but highly talented foe.

Finally, the Boks’ Duracell bunny, Swiss army knife and do-it-all magician, Cheslin Kolbe, is facing a man on a mission to regain his regular starting slot in Mark Tele’a. Having recently lost his place to clubmate Caleb Clarke, Tele’a will want to prove that his slippery running style is the missing ingredient for his team.

Springboks Vs. All Blacks Prediction

Never count the All Blacks out is one of the most well-worn statements in rugby circles and for good reason. Rarely have the men from the land of the long silver cloud not responded when their backs have been to the wall. Yet, this previously impenetrable forcefield of invincibility has been chipped away at to such an extent that they are one of the pack, rather than the alphas.

Ahead of them, the Boks, along with Ireland and France, are the big dogs, with England not far behind. Alongside England, Robertson’s men are firmly a top-5 side, but while they possess the ability to beat any team, they cannot be counted on to do so.

The Kiwis' defense has been the gold standard for the past 15 years, and as the saying goes, it can be lonely at the top. Throw into the mix a new coaching staff having its first crack at test rugby, and this All Blacks side is far from the complete package they could become in the next few years.

Conversely, the Springboks are riding a wave of confidence on the back of two Rugby World Cup titles. Although the South Africans are more fallible than their fans would lead you to believe, they remain the class of the Southern Hemisphere in 2024.

For all of the noise around the rivalry, the nuts and bolts of the situation are that South Africa, at this moment, just has too much firepower for Scott Robertson’s side. This match will be tight throughout, but when it comes to the crucible moments, the Boks will edge them. South Africa by six points.

Spring Boks Vs. All Blacks Lineups

Springboks

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Kwagga Smith, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Lukhanyo Am

All Blacks

15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Tele’a, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Wallace Sititi, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams

Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Beauden Barrett

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