Overview
- The All Blacks began their eight‑match Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour on Friday with a franchise match in Cape Town that opens a run of four United Rugby Championship club games before four Tests against the Springboks.
- New Zealand made a late change on the eve of the opener when loose forward Wallace Sititi was ruled out with a mild illness and Anton Segner was promoted to start, while hooker Codie Taylor has a calf issue that could limit his minutes before the first Test on August 22.
- SA Rugby and Nike unveiled a commemorative Springboks jersey featuring the national anthem’s lyrics on August 5, with the kit put on sale from August 6 and slated to be worn during the four‑Test series.
- Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has warned the series will be very demanding on player load, and South Africa will mix experienced stars with less‑tested players after also scheduling a warm‑up Test in Buenos Aires on August 8 to spread minutes.
- The tour revives the traditional extended format not used since 1996, ties into a 2027 calendar change that makes the Rugby Championship biennial, and concludes with a commercially driven fourth Test in Baltimore that organisers hope will grow the game in the US.