Saturday’s opening Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test at 10bet Ellis Park promises to throw the Springboks and All Blacks straight into the furnace, with four encounters between the old foes set to turn the season into a heavyweight rugby marathon.
Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick and captain Pieter-Steph du Toit spoke with the anticipation of men who know the next month will test every fibre of their rugby DNA.
“Playing four games in one season against the All Blacks is always going to be a great challenge,” said Stick. “These are moments that we live for.”
“Our mindset for these games will draw on those experiences,” he said.
The Boks enter the opening salvo knowing New Zealand are in a rich vein of form. Stick expects the All Blacks to attack the foundations of South African rugby through the set pieces before unleashing their dangerous backs.
“We know New Zealand is going to bring it in terms of intensity, and we’ll have to perform really well the lineouts and the scrums especially because they’re going to try to test us there,” he said.
“They’ll also look for gaps with their skilful players, so I’d say the key would be to stay alert and not get caught out.”
“These are the moments that we live for” – more here: https://t.co/ZJDxm8ZZz1 🇿🇦#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/cy0n7th6U7
— Springboks (@Springboks) August 21, 2026
It is a tactical warning wrapped in a rugby cliché: lose concentration for a heartbeat and the All Blacks can turn a crack into a canyon.
For Du Toit, Ellis Park adds another layer of emotion. The 99-Test loose forward described the stadium as a place close to his heart, with the ghosts of the 1995 Rugby World Cup still echoing around the famous arena.
“When you stand there and sing the anthem and see the supporters behind the Springboks, it’s unbelievable,” he said. “And of course, the 1995 Rugby World Cup was won there as well, so it’s a very special place for our country.”
The occasion will carry added significance for Damian de Allende, who becomes only the 10th Springbok to reach 100 Tests.
Stick praised the centre for doing the unglamorous work that often escapes the spotlight.
“He’s one of those guys who does the dirty work without anyone seeing it,” Stick said. “So for him to play his 100th Test match is a great achievement for him and his family.”
Du Toit remembers seeing De Allende at the Stormers, where the centre initially played on the wing.
“I just saw this beast in the way he carried the ball and his work on defence,” he said.
Focused.#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/fTUru5CXTH
— Springboks (@Springboks) August 21, 2026
The haka will provide another emotional flashpoint. Du Toit said the Boks will approach it with respect after gaining a deeper understanding of its significance.
“I would never say we’d be relaxed, but it’s a massive honour to face the haka,” he said. “We’ll face the haka with respect and we’ll accept the challenge.”
Stick summed up the mood inside the Bok camp: “We want to keep improving and evolving, and we will never be comfortable.”
The Rugby Greatest Rivalry has barely cleared its throat. Ellis Park is ready to roar.
Teams
South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok.
New Zealand: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Luke Jacobson, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Josh Lord, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.
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.
Date: Saturday, August 22
Venue: 10bet Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17.10 (15.10 GMT; 03.10 NZST Sunday, August 23)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
