The Springboks host the All Blacks in the second Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday. Following a 33-16 defeat in Johannesburg, South Africa welcomes back captain Siya Kolisi while navigating squad injuries ahead of the crucial fixture.
The stage is set for a high-stakes showdown in the Mother City as the Springboks attempt to bounce back from an opening-match loss at Ellis Park. The All Blacks arrive in Cape Town carrying the momentum of an unbeaten run under coach Dave Rennie, while the hosts look to defend a record at DHL Stadium where they have won five of their last six international matches since 2021.
Squad Adjustments and the Return of Siya Kolisi
South Africa faces a forced reshuffle in the backline following confirmation that Handre Pollard will miss the fixture due to a niggle. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu steps into the starting flyhalf role, with Manie Libbok named to provide cover on the bench. On the wing, Cheslin Kolbe returns to the starting XV to replace Kurt-Lee Arendse.
The boost for the home side comes from the return of captain Siya Kolisi, who was cleared on Tuesday following a successful training session. Springbok prop Thomas du Toit emphasized the value of the skipper’s presence.
“It’s great having Siya back in the team.”
Thomas du Toit, Springbok prop
Du Toit noted that Kolisi managed his rehabilitation responsibly, taking an extra week when he did not feel fully prepared.
Reflecting on Johannesburg and the Statistical Battle
Although the scoreboard in the opening Test favored New Zealand 33-16, a closer look at the statistics reveals a more competitive contest than the final margin suggests. Springbok legend Victor Matfield noted that the hosts played well despite being undone by execution errors.
The Springboks held distinct advantages in several core metrics during the first encounter. Their scrum functioned strongly, 22-metre entries reached double figures, and they recorded a superior line-out success rate at 93 percent compared to New Zealand’s 79 percent. South Africa also edged the territory battle at 59 percent and finished with 51 percent possession. However, a high count of conceded turnovers proved decisive.
All Blacks coach Dave Rennie expects the home side to double down on their traditional strengths rather than alter their tactical approach in Cape Town.
“I think they’ll just try and do what they did last week and try and do it better. So they’ll again attack us at set-piece, put more ball in the air, try and get a big wall in front of us and try and spend as much time in our 22 as they can.”
Dave Rennie, All Blacks coach
Kick-Off Times and Global Broadcast Options
Fans across the globe can access live coverage and streaming options tailored to their regions.
Viewers in the United States can watch the fixture for free by registering an account on RugbyPass TV, which holds rights across all eight games of the tour. In New Zealand, free-to-air broadcaster ThreeNow provides a full match replay at 11am NZST on Sunday for fans avoiding the early morning kickoff.
Regional Broadcasters and Subscription Pricing
| Country / Region | Broadcaster | Pricing / Access Details |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports Action / NOW Sports | Packages from £22/month (Sky) or daily / monthly plans via NOW Sports |
| Australia | Stan Sport | AU$20/month on top of a AU$9.99/month Stan base subscription |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport 1 / Sky Sport Now | Subscriptions start at NZ$29.99 per day or NZ$59.99 per month |
| South Africa | SuperSport | Requires DStv access package, with streaming options starting from Rs99/month |
| Canada | Premier Sports | CA$29.99 monthly pass, CA$79.99 six-month pass, or CA$139.99 annual subscription |
Travelers outside their home countries can utilize virtual private networks such as Surfshark or NordVPN to access their domestic subscriptions from abroad.
