Dave Rennie Names All Blacks Team to Face Springboks at Ellis Park

Dave Rennie has named his All Blacks team for the opening Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry against the Springboks at 10bet Ellis Park on Saturday, 22 August 2026.

Ardie Savea will captain New Zealand from number eight, while Damian McKenzie starts at fullback and Ruben Love takes the number 10 jersey.

The announcement is the first team reveal ahead of the opening match in the four-Test series.

All Blacks Starting XV

1. Ethan de Groot
2. Codie Taylor
3. Tyrel Lomax
4. Josh Lord
5. Fabian Holland
6. Tupou Vaa’i
7. Luke Jacobson
8. Ardie Savea, captain
9. Cam Roigard
10. Ruben Love
11. Josh Moorby
12. Jordie Barrett
13. Quinn Tupaea
14. Will Jordan
15. Damian McKenzie

All Blacks Replacements

16. Asafo Aumua
17. George Bower
18. Fletcher Newell
19. Anton Segner
20. Peter Lakai
21. Kyle Preston
22. Anton Lienert-Brown
23. Leroy Carter

Rennie Selects McKenzie at Fullback

McKenzie starts at fullback alongside wings Will Jordan and Josh Moorby.

Quinn Tupaea and Jordie Barrett form the midfield combination, with Love partnering scrumhalf Cam Roigard.

Savea leads the loose trio alongside Luke Jacobson and Tupou Vaa’i.

Josh Lord and Fabian Holland start in the second row. Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor and Tyrel Lomax complete the starting forward pack.

Match Facts

• The All Blacks and Springboks have played 110 Tests. New Zealand have won 63, South Africa have won 43 and four matches have ended in draws.
• Their first match took place at Carisbrook in Dunedin in 1921. The All Blacks won 13-5.
• The teams last met in Wellington in 2025, where the Springboks won 43-10.
• The All Blacks have faced the Springboks 16 times at 10bet Ellis Park. South Africa have won 10 of those matches, while New Zealand have won six.
• The 2026 Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry contest is the 13th Test series between the All Blacks and Springboks.
• The series record is tied at five wins each. The first two series, played in 1921 and 1928, ended in draws.
• The Springboks won five of the following seven series through to 1976.
• New Zealand’s series victories during that period came at home in 1956 and 1965. The All Blacks lost at home in 1937.
• New Zealand have won the past three series. Those victories came at home in 1981 and 1994, followed by their first away series victory in South Africa in 1996.

Seven Rugby World Cup Titles Between Them

The Springboks and All Blacks are ranked first and second in the men’s world rankings.

Together, they have won seven of the 10 Rugby World Cups contested since the tournament began in 1987.

New Zealand won the Webb Ellis Cup in 1987, 2011 and 2015.

South Africa have won four titles, lifting the trophy in 1995, 2007, 2019 and 2023.

The Springboks did not compete in the first two Rugby World Cup tournaments in 1987 and 1991.

Two World Cup Finals Between the Rivals

South Africa and New Zealand have faced each other in two Rugby World Cup finals.

The Springboks defeated the All Blacks 15-12 after extra time at Ellis Park in 1995.

South Africa secured another narrow victory in the 2023 final, beating New Zealand 12-11 at Stade de France.

Four-Test Rivalry Starts in Johannesburg

The Ellis Park encounter begins the 2026 Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.

The Springboks and All Blacks will meet in four Tests, with matches staged across South Africa before the series concludes in the United States.

The series also features a magnetic trophy created for the four-Test contest.

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