Springboks prepare for first Test against unbeaten All Blacks

The Springboks are shifting their focus to the first Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against an unbeaten New Zealand team. The match will be played at Ellis Park on Saturday, 22 August, with kick-off set for 17:10.

New Zealand have won all three matches on their South African tour so far. They opened with a 38-21 victory over the Stormers in Cape Town, defeated the Sharks 54-0 in Durban and then beat the Bulls 50-19 in Pretoria.

Those results have given the All Blacks strong momentum before their first meeting with the Springboks. Coach Dave Rennie has also recognised that the Test will bring a significantly greater challenge than the tour matches, with South Africa expected to raise the intensity and quality of the contest.

The Bulls match provided New Zealand with useful preparation for the conditions in Johannesburg. Rennie’s team also gained experience of playing at altitude, while the defensive pressure from the Bulls offered another test before the four-match series begins.

South Africa will welcome Johan Grobbelaar and Elrigh Louw back into the national squad after both players were released to represent the Bulls against New Zealand. The pair are due to rejoin the Springboks on Sunday as preparations continue.

The Ellis Park fixture starts a series of four Tests between the rivals. The second is scheduled for Cape Town on 29 August, followed by the third at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on 5 September. The series ends in Baltimore at M&T Bank Stadium on 12 September.

South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has described the series as a major challenge comparable to the knockout stages of a Rugby World Cup. The Springboks have used the past two weeks to work on areas requiring improvement, while the visiting All Blacks arrive after a perfect start to their tour.