The New Zealand All Blacks are set to take on the South Africa Springboks on Saturday in the Rugby Championship.
The match in Wellington is slated to start at 7:35 p.m. NZST (9:35 a.m. SAST).
The match will be broadcast on Sky Sport 1 in New Zealand and Supersport in South Africa.
Live streaming will be available through both broadcasters.
The All Blacks are coming off a 28-9 win over Argentina after winning once and having a draw with Australia.
The Springboks are coming off narrow 24-23 loss to Australia after back-to-back victories over Argentina. South Africa is second in the Rugby Championship.
Sky Sports notes that historically the Springboks are the one side in world rugby who have been able to cause New Zealand problems, although the All Blacks have won eight of the past nine meetings.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said he expects a tough match.
“You’re going to get physicality and it’s going to be tough and you wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Hansen.
“It’s not about talking it up, neither side is like that. Both teams just get on with the job and the opportunity to have a one-two clash is always exciting. The South Africans only lost two games last year, so if we’re being honest they could have been two games we lost.”
New Zealand will be without both Sam Whitelock and Liam Meesam due to injuries, bringing Jeremy Thrush and Steven Luatua on as replacements.
ESPN Scrum predicts that New Zealand’s dominance of world rugby will continue, especially considering they’re at home.
“The All Blacks may have a couple of injuries but they have proven time and time again that they have the depth to cover absences and the Springboks will have to be at their very best if they are to knock the Kiwis off their lofty perch in Wellington on Saturday,” it said.
And it predicts New Zealand will win by 10.
All Rugby Championship teams will have a break next weekend before play starts back up on September 27.
On that Saturday, South Africa will face Australia again, but this time at home in Cape Town, while New Zealand will travel to face Argentina in La Plata.
See squads below.
New Zealand
15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 1 Wyatt Crockett, 2 Dane Coles, 3 Owen Franks, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Jeremy Thrush, 6 Steven Luatua, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 8 Kieran Read.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Ben Franks, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Sam Cane, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Cory Jane.
South Africa
15 Wille le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Victor Matfield, 6 Francois Louw, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 8 Duane Vermeulen.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Marcel van der Merwe, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Warren Whiteley, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Damian de Allende.
