All Blacks v Springboks recap: Scott Robertson’s side extend Eden Park unbeaten run
The All Blacks beat South Africa 24-17 at Eden Park to extend their unbeaten streak at the ground to 51 tests.
That's all folks
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Thank you for joining our coverage of another classic clash between these two storied rivals. We'll be back tomorrow with more All Blacks content, so be sure to tune back in for that.
Until then, have a great Saturday night New Zealand.
Which All Black played the best at Eden Park?
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'Great test match' - Rassie Erasmus
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Speaking to Sky Sport, Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus called it a "great test match".
"Maybe not always quality rugby but intensity for sure."
He said the Springboks started losing control under the heavy rain, which is why some substitutions were made.
"They always have a fast start and we really tried to counter the fast start. It wasn't something magnificent they did there, it was just an error from us," Erasmus said of the All Blacks' first try in the opening two minutes of the game.
"It's always very tough against them and tonight was nothing different."
Liam Napier reports from Eden Park
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All Blacks top Rugby Championship ladder
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The All Blacks extend their unbeaten Eden Park streak to 51 tests after that win and move into the top of the Rugby Championship ladder after three rounds.
They sit on 10 points, one point ahead of Australia after their overtime win in Townsville this afternoon.
South Africa move down to third and Argentina in fourth with a win each.
Ardie Savea presented 100th test cap
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Rieko Ioane is speaking on behalf of the All Blacks ahead of Ardie Savea's milestone cap presentation, speaking of the "leader and pioneer" he is off the field.
"I have nothing but admiration," Ioane said.
Savea is presented his cap by his wife Saskia.
"To my family... I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for you guys. I'm standing on the shoulders of you guys," Savea said.
"Every young person in this crowd, this is for you."
Christopher Reive
'Weren't up to scratch' - Jesse Kriel
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Springboks captain Jesse Kriel told Sky Sports they "weren't up to scratch tonight".
"Way too many handling errors and just things that weren't up to standard for us, but I mean all credit to New Zealand, I thought they were really good."
Kriel said unforced errors made it hard for the Springboks to build pressure.
He thanked all the South African fans who made their way to Eden Park.
'Pushed us right to the end' - Scott Barrett
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Speaking to Sky Sport after the game, captain Scott Barrett said he was feeling "pumped".
"The Springboks are not double world champs for nothing, and they really pushed us right to the end there."
He said there had been plenty of feeling during the week with the Eden Park streak on the line and Ardie Savea's 100th test.
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Wow oh wow, what a finish. The Springboks were right in it at the end but the All Blacks' defence proved too strong.
They're all absolutely shattered. What an 80 minutes.
Fulltime
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The Springboks make their way up to the All Blacks 22 through Kriel.
The All Blacks turn it over though! Preston passes to McKenzie and he boots it dead.
The All Blacks have held on!
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The Springboks have turned it over though! They're on the attack as the fulltime hooter sounds.
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The All Blacks lineout is messy but they come down with it! They just need to wind down the clock here.
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Just over a minute to go and the Springboks are 10m away from the All Black line.
But it's the milestone man! Ardie Savea gets over the ball and forces the penalty. What a moment! The All Blacks are let off yet again.
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The Springboks storm off the lineout and crash it up in the midfield.
The All Blacks are penalised again. It's Tupaea who is pinged for a high tackle.
They kick it for touch inside the All Blacks 22.
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The All Blacks contest the scrum well but it's retained by the Springboks.
They break away through Reinach who is taken high. The All Blacks are penalised and the Springboks kick for touch near the 40m line.
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Five minutes left here in Auckland. The Springboks take down the kickoff again.
They return fire with a kick downfield to McKenzie who takes it down well. The All Blacks try to go left but it's knocked on by Tamaiti Williams.
Springboks scrum just inside their own half.
Springboks Try
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The All Blacks are penalised at the scrum but the Springboks play under advantage.
They crash it up through their forwards before reserve halfback Cobus Reinach has a dart from the ruck and spots a gap.
He bounces over for a try. That's big for South Africa.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu coverts well. It's back to a 7-point deficit.
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Eben Etzebeth takes the lineout in this time but the maul goes nowhere. It's passed to the backs and de Allende puts a kick through but it's cleaned up by Kyle Preston.
He's taken it back though so it will be a 5m scrum to South Africa.
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Lood de Jager takes down the lineout and the maul is brought down. The Springboks play under advantage and lose it but the referee calls it back for the penalty.
They go to touch again, finding it about 15m out.
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The Springboks take down the lineout and maul. They crash it into middle field but it's turned over by the All Blacks.
Proctor tries for a crossfield kick to Jordan but it sails into touch.
The Springboks have a lineout about 35m from the All Blacks line.
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Kyle Preston is on the field. All Black number 1231. His first task is scrambling the ball into touch with a box kick from the kickoff.
He finds the sideline down near the 40m line.
All Blacks Try
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The All Blacks forwards roll up their sleeves and go close on multiple phases.
Christie spreads it into the backline and finds Beauden Barrett. He hits Quinn Tupaea who spots a gap and pins his ears back. He breaks a couple tackles and crashes over to the right of the posts.
McKenzie slots the conversion.
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What a huge moment in this match. The All Blacks go for touch again.
Springboks Yellow Card
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The All Blacks take down the lineout and threaten the line. Kwagga Smith is penalised for a cynical infringement. He's been sent off.
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Beauden Barrett restarts and the Springboks are penalised for shepherding again.
McKenzie turns down three and goes for touch, finding it about 7m out.
Springboks Try
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What a scrum by the Springboks! They absolutely walked all over the All Blacks.
Kwagga Smith took it from the base and ran it up towards the 5m line.
Malcolm Marx picks and goes and crashes over.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu converts the try. The Springboks are back in this.
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The Springboks lineout is taken down by Kwagga Smith and immediately distributed to the back line.
They storm into the All Blacks' 22 but they're pinged for a forward pass.
The All Blacks are let off again.
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The All Blacks are penalised at scrum time again. The Springboks go for touch through the boot of Pollard's replacement Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
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Beauden Barrett restarts and it finds a barnstorming van Staden. The Boks can't break the line so Pollard kicks high into the 22.
McKenzie managed to tip it back for Proctor.
Christie box kicks but it doesn't find touch, Cheslin Kolbe goes on a threatening run but is taken down.
Handre Pollard tries a questionable kick which is knocked on by Proctor. It will be a Springboks scrum 40m out from the line.
Pollard is being replaced now.
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The Springboks lose the ball and it dribbles over the tryline.
Jordie Barrett forces it for what will be a goaline dropout.
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Pieter-Steph du Toit takes down the lineout and the Springboks spread it left before Pollard dishes a pass straight into touch.
The All Blacks lineout is stolen though and the Springboks put up a box kick down near the All Blacks 22.
Christie returns fire and it's taken down well.
Cobus Reinach decides to box kick this time and it's regathered by South Africa. They storm into the All Blacks 22 hot on attack.
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The lineout maul from the Springboks goes backwards so they distribute to the backline to a storming Damian de Allende.
The Springboks are penalised for shepherding again though.
The All Blacks find touch on halfway.
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Kolisi is replaced by Kwagga Smith for the Springboks.
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Pollard gets us underway again and it's taken down by Jordie Barrett.
Christie puts up another box kick. It's not one of his greatest and goes into touch about 20m out from the All Blacks line.
All Blacks Penalty
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It's good from McKenzie, he pushes the lead to 14.
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Savea storms from the base of the scrum on a good run. The Springboks are penalised for taking Christie out.
McKenzie will go for points 30m out in front of the posts.
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Scott Barrett steals another lineout for the All Blacks and they've got possession in the Springboks' half again.
McKenzie tries to stab through a little grubber but Kolisi is there for South Africa. They boot it downfield into the All Blacks half.
Christie puts up a box kick and it's dropped by Cheslin Kolbe. It will be an All Blacks scrum 8m inside Springboks territory.
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Wallace Sititi is leaving the field alongside Fletcher Newell. They're replace by Du'Plessis Kirifi and Tyrel Lomax.
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The All Blacks look good on attack, making their way up to the Springboks' 22m line, but Scott Barrett is pinged for a side entry into the ruck.
The Springboks ease the pressure again.
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The Springboks take down the goaline dropout and run it up towards the 40m line but Parker makes a good chop tackle and Vaa'i wins the penalty for the All Blacks.
Barrett finds touch on the Springboks' 40m line.
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Marco van Staden takes the first hit up on the second half and it's a bruising run.
We're back to a kicking contest which has ended with the Springboks with the ball near the All Blacks 40.
Jesse Kriel gives a massive pass wide to Kolbe who kicks ahead and it dribbles into touch.
The All Blacks lineout on their 5m line is stolen but Ioane manages to hold up the Springboks for a dropout.
Second Half
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The All Blacks hold an 11-point lead and are 40 minutes away from keeping their 50-test streak at Eden Park alive.
Tamaiti Williams has come on for Ethan de Groot as Beauden Barrett gets us underway again.
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While you wait
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Are you a diehard All Blacks fan? Feel free to get stuck into our All Blacks tight five quiz before the chaos starts again.
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Well a good start for the All Blacks. Plenty of errors under wet Auckland conditions.
Two very good tries from the All Blacks to start and they've done well to keep the Springboks out of their 22 for the most part.
Don't expect the Springboks to go down without a fight though, it's going to be a thriller of a second half.
More stats
Cameron McMillan
Carries
Wallace Sititi 7
Pieter-Steph du Toit 6
Damian de Allende 5
Grant Williams 5
Line breaks
Will Jordan 1
Emoni Narawa 1
Tackles made
Ethan de Groot 7
Fletcher Newell 7
Tuopu Vaa'i 7
Simon Parker 7
Ardie Savea 7
Pieter-Steph du Toit 7
Stats
Cameron McMillan
Territory - All Blacks 48% Springboks 52%
Possession - All Blacks 46% Springboks 54%
Lineouts won - All Blacks 71% Springboks 78%
Turnovers lost - All Blacks 7 Springboks 6
Penalties conceded - All Blacks 5 Springboks 4
Tackles made - All Blacks 56 Springboks 49
Halftime
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The All Blacks are awarded a free kick after Malcolm Marx took too long to throw it in the lineout.
Beauden Barrett boots it downfield as the halftime siren sounds. The Springboks return fire and the All Blacks decide their work is done. Will Jordan kicks it into touch.
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The All Blacks are going backwards so boot it downfield through Jordie Barrett.
Handre Pollard recovers and kicks a 50/22. What a kick, it was just short of going out on the full.
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De Groot wins the All Blacks a scrum penalty this time.
Barrett kicks for touch and it goes out just short of halfway.
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The throw in is good but pass off the lineout is dropped by Williams.
A chance gone begging there for the Springboks. It'll be an All Blacks scrum just outside their 22.
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Pieter-Steph du Toit takes down another lineout and the Springboks maul up to halfway.
Williams shapes to box kick but Vaa'i is penalised for playing the No 9.
The Springboks kick for touch and find it inside the All Blacks 22.
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The All Blacks are penalised at the scrum again.
The Springboks opt for touch and find it near halfway.
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Taukei'aho's throw is on target to Vaa'i as the All Blacks start to build some phases.
Beauden Barrett is hit hard in a big tackle from Canan Moodie.
Christie puts up a box kick near the Springboks 22 but it's knocked on by Jordan again. South Africa scrum.
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Scott Barrett gets up and steals the Springboks lineout. The All Blacks spread it wide to the right edge to find some space.
Savea tries to chip over the top but it's charged down into touch.
Codie Taylor has been forced from the field for an HIA. Samisoni Taukei'aho's first task will be a lineout throw in.
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The scrum goes down and Williams disposes it into the backline to de Allende.
Williams puts up another box kick and it's spilled by Will Jordan again. The Springboks get the ball back and test McKenzie this time, who takes it cleanly in the 22 and calls mark.
Great effort from McKenzie there. The All Blacks kick it into Springboks half.
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Taylor's thrown is pinched by Nortje. Williams kicks downfield and it's dropped by Will Jordan.
Springboks scrum near the All Blacks' 40m line now.
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Beauden Barrett puts up a short restart and it's won back by the All Blacks.
There's more force-back here between the two sides before the Springboks carry it up towards halfway.
Williams puts up another contestable kick and Etzebeth is penalised for a dangerous tackle on Damian McKenzie.
The All Blacks kick for touch and find it near the Springboks 22.
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Beauden Barrett gets us underway again and it finds Kolbe who takes it up.
Grant Williams puts up a box kick and it's taken down by Christie. He sends a kick right back in the next play and it's caught by Pollard.
Williams puts up another contestable and Jordie Barrett is penalised for shepherding.
The Boks opt for the points again from about 45m out but Pollard's attempt is wide.
Springboks Penalty
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Ethan de Groot is penalised at the scrum.
Handre Pollard goes for the posts and slots it right down the middle.
The Springboks are on the board.
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There's a double knock on at the lineout. The All Blacks were first so it will be a Springboks scrum about 30m away from the tryline.
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The kickoff is scrambled into touch by the All Blacks and South Africa are on the attack now.
The forwards carry their way up to the All Blacks 22 before Jesse Kriel puts through a grubber.
Christie boots it into touch again about 30 from the All Blacks' line.
All Blacks Try
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The All Blacks go over again!
They take down the lineout inside the 22 and give it off to Wallace Sititi who provides a nice ball to Will Jordan.
Jordan breaks a couple of tackles and goes over under the sticks!
McKenzie converts from straight in front.
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Sititi breaks off the back of the scrum and takes play up to the All Blacks' 40m line. Christie box kicks and it's tapped back by Jordan but knocked on by Christie.
The Springboks kick downfield to Beauden Barrett and he kicks a 50/22.
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Nortje takes down the lineout for South Africa and they get a good rolling maul going, but it's stopped by the All Blacks.
Simon Parker got his hands on it. It's another scrum to the All Blacks.
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It's a messy scrum but the All Blacks come away with it somehow. Christie puts up a box kick and finds touch around the All Blacks' 40m line.
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The Springboks are on the attack and try their textbook midfield lineout, but it's brought down by the All Blacks.
The All Blacks have earned a scrum here just inside their 22.
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Vaa'i pinches a Springboks lineout near halfway but it's given away in the backline after a pass hit Ioane's knee. Barrett is penalised for being offside.
The Springboks go for touch and find it on the All Blacks' 22m line.
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The Springboks have their first real attacking chance of the game now.
It's some scrappy rugby out there with plenty of ball going to ground in the wet.
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Christie puts up a box kick and the All Blacks are awarded a penalty. Pieter-Steph du Toit is pinged for getting in front of the chasers.
The All Blacks go to touch. It's taken in by Scott Barrett but dropped by Vaa'i. The Springboks boot it downfield.
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Plenty of distance for Jordie Barrett but he pushes the penalty kick wide.
The Springboks restart with a 22m dropout and the All Blacks have ball on halfway again.
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It's really coming down at Eden Park now. The two sides trade box in centre field.
The All Blacks work their way up into the Springboks half with some flashy passing in wet weather.
Their awarded a penalty abut 45m out and will go for the points.
Bad news for the All Blacks here, Narawa has gone down injured after a collision under the high ball. Damian McKenzie coming on.
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Jordie Barrett takes down the kickoff and boots it downfield. He's found touch near the Springboks' 40m line.
All Blacks Try
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The dream start for the All Blacks! The All Blacks win their lineout just outside the Springboks 22. It's passed to Beauden Barrett who puts in a crossfield kick.
Narawa dives to catch it and breaks through the line to cross over in the corner!
Jordie Barrett converts.
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Vaa'i takes down the kickoff for the first touch of the game inside the All Blacks 22. Finlay Christie returns a box kick but it doesn't find touch.
The Springboks run it back to halfway and knock it on. Proctor kicks it through to the Springboks tryline and they scramble it into touch. What a start.
KICKOFF
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And we're away in Auckland.
Handre Pollard kicks us off.
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What a build-up. And we're all set to get underway here.
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Codie Taylor leads a bone-chilling Kapa o Pango. A lot of love from the crowd.
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A pretty incredible rendition of the South African national anthem from the Auckland Secondary Schools Pasifika Choir there.
You can hear the South Africans in the crowd joining in. What an atmosphere down at Eden Park.
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We're all set for the national anthems now.
Ardie Savea leads All Blacks out on 100th test
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Ardie Savea leads the All Blacks out onto their fortress for his 100th test. The 15th player to reach the illustrious milestone after Codie Taylor in Argentina.
What a moment.
Don't go anywhere folks
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We're 10 minutes away from kickoff in Auckland and the Springboks are getting ready to make their way onto Eden Park in front of a packed crowd.
The stage is set at the garden
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Wallabies beat Pumas in overtime thriller
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Australia have shot to the top of the Rugby Championship ladder after an 86th minute try saw them beat Argentina 28-24.
The Pumas took a 24-21 lead in the 78th minute before relentless attack saw the Wallabies cross over through Angus Bell six minutes after the fulltime hooter had sounded.
What a thriller! Will we see something similar at Eden Park tonight?
Rassie's respect
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The Springboks coach didn't mince his words in talking about what the All Blacks' Eden Park record means.
Here come the reinforcements
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Are you a diehard All Blacks fan?
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Under an hour away from first whistle at Eden Park now.
Feel free to test your All Blacks knowledge and get stuck into our Tight Five quiz as we count down until kickoff.
Southland record shortest Ranfurly Shield reign
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A 14-year wait and gone in six days.
Southland have recorded the shortest reign with the Ranfurly Shield in its 121-year history after suffering a 54-14 defeat to Canterbury in Invercargill today.
Eden Park stands starting to fill up
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We're just over an hour away from kickoff at Eden Park and the crowd is filtering in.
It's set to be a sellout in Auckland tonight.
Match Preview
All Blacks v South Africa, Rugby Championship, 7.05pm, Saturday, Eden Park, Auckland
It’s world No 1 v No 2, a repeat of the World Cup final, two of the great sporting rivals squaring off once again. It might just be the biggest test for the All Blacks this year.
Scott Robertson’s side look to continue a proud record at Eden Park stretching back to 1994 while also needing to bounce back from a defeat to Argentina. They’ll need to defuse Rassie Erasmus’ bomb squad and end a losing run of four straight against the Boks. The last time they beat the All Blacks in five straight tests? 1949. The last time they won at Eden Park? 1937.
The Springboks haven’t played at Eden Park since 2013, on that day current captain Siya Kolisi came off the bench for his fifth test and first defeat. South Africa have played in Auckland since however, losing at Go Media Stadium in 2023 (35-20) and North Harbour Stadium (57-0) in 2017 making it 10 straight defeats in the city.
All Blacks v South Africa line-ups
All Blacks side:
1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett (Captain), 5. Tupou Vaa’i, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Ardie Savea (Vice-Captain), 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Finlay Christie, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Jordie Barrett, (Vice-Captain), 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Will Jordan.
Substitutes: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17. Tamaiti Williams, 18. Tyrel Lomax, 19. Fabian Holland, 20. Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. Quinn Tupaea, 23. Damian McKenzie.
South Africa side:
1. Ox Nche, 2. Malcolm Marx, 3. Thomas du Toit, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Ruan Nortje, 6. Marco van Staden, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8. Siya Kolisi, 9. Grant Williams, 10. Handre Pollard, 11. Canan Moodie, 12. Damian de Allende, 13. Jesse Kriel (Captain), 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 15. Willie Le Roux.
Substitutes: 16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17. Boan Venter, 18. Wilco Louw, 19. Lood de Jager, 20. Kwagga Smith, 21. Cobus Reinach, 22. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23. Ethan Hooker.
All Blacks v South Africa history
Played – 108
All Blacks won – 62
South Africa won – 42
Draws – 4
All Blacks points scored – 2235
South Africa points scored – 1789
Form guide (past five tests)
All Blacks: L, W, W, W, W
South Africa: W, L, W, W, W
All Blacks v South Africa referee
Englishman Karl Dickson is in charge of Saturday’s test with Nika Amashukeli and Jordan Way the assistant referees and Brett Cronan the TV match official. It’s the first time Dickson has refereed this fixture. The All Blacks have a 4-0 record in tests with Dickson as referee, while South Africa are 2-1 with their only defeat in Ireland.
All Blacks v South Africa TAB odds
All Blacks: $1.55 Draw: $21 South Africa: $2.45
All Blacks Rugby Championship schedule
August 16, 9.10am – All Blacks 41 Argentina 24, Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium, Cordoba
August 23, 9.10am – All Blacks 23 Argentina 29, Velez Sarsfield Stadium, Buenos Aires
Saturday, September 6, 7.05pm – All Blacks v South Africa, Eden Park, Auckland
Saturday, September 13, 7.05pm – All Blacks v South Africa, Sky Stadium, Wellington
Saturday, September 27, 5.05pm – All Blacks v Australia, Eden Park, Auckland
Saturday, October 4, 10.45pm – All Blacks v Australia, Perth
All Blacks v South Africa – how to follow the action
For live commentary of All Blacks v South Africa, join Elliott Smith on Newstalk ZB, Gold Sport and iHeartRadio.
Plus the Alternative Commentary Collective will be providing commentary on their iHeartRadio stream.
You can watch the game on Sky Sport 1 and it will be livestreaming on Sky Sport Now.
You can also find live updates at nzherald.co.nz.