Eben Etzebeth charges down Cam Roigard's clearance in the New Zealand 22 but is pulled back for being offside.

That's a statement of intent from the off.

Off we go for the first of four massive Tests between the two best sides in the world.

This should be a good one.

The Haka was met by ultimate respect.

As a final touch, we've another fly over from a jet. I'm not entirely convinced at this point that a pilot isn't just lost, or just wants a view of the game, but it's cool none the less.

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The anthems have only added to the atmosphere.

Now Codie Taylor will lead the All Blacks for the Haka.

The crowd are giving it a few jeers, but the South Africa players stand arm-in-arm, completely unmoved.

They're getting their money's worth out of All Blacks legend Sean Fitzpatrick, who not only presented half of the trophy a few minutes ago but is now standing holding the New Zealand flag, arm-in-arm with the All Blacks who are taking the field today.

Just to spice things up, there's fireworks going off left, right and centre before the anthems and, of course, the Haka.

I hope the on-pitch product can live up to the pre-game ceremonies. It's certainly getting the big build up.

We've had a fly over from a plane and the trophy, which actually breaks into two parts, presented before the game to add to the atmosphere.

The teams are now out at Ellis Park, with the All Blacks the first out on to the famous turf.

Damian de Allende, on the day of his 100th cap, is next out on the pitch with his family by his side, and is followed by the rest of his South Africa team-mates.

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In the past three years, South Africa have had the measure of the All Blacks with five of the last six meetings going the way of the Springboks.

That includes the 2023 Rugby World Cup final, which South Africa won by a single point.

Rassie Erasmus' side also won both games in the Rugby Championship the following year, but New Zealand hit back in the 2025 edition at Eden Park.

However, the Springboks' 43-10 win in Wellington last September was the biggest defeat in the All Blacks' history.

Ouch.

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New Zealand head coach Dave Rennie: “After all the build up and anticipation, our whole touring squad is excited to get this first Test underway.

“We have selected a balanced mix of big match, experienced players and younger players who have earned the right to play in this first Test.

“The first three franchise games have exposed our newer players to the way South African teams play and have been fantastic in helping us build combinations and develop the game we want to play.

“We know the Test series will be a huge step up. We’re well aware of what the Springboks will bring to the contest and the pressure that will come to bear.

"They are number one in the world, playing at their spiritual home in front of their passionate fans, so we will have to be at our very best on Saturday.”

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The stage is set....

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South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus: “The All Blacks are a quality team, and we selected combinations we think would be best suited for the challenge this weekend.

“The squad is well balanced with players who remained in South Africa to train for this series and some of the players who featured against Argentina.

“It certainly helped to have some players return from injury last week and to get back into top-flight Test rugby, while some of the others who had a heavy workload in the Nations Championship had sufficient time to recover from the physical toll on them.

“The whole group has now been together for over a week, and we are all aligned regarding the way we want to play this weekend.”

New Zealand Rugby

Three big names return for New Zealand as captain Ardie Savea, Cam Roigard and try scorer Will Jordan all start at Ellis Park.

The trio had not featured in any of the All Blacks' three warm-up fixtures against the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls.

Damian McKenzie is fit to start at full-back after he picked up an injury in the warm-up before facing the Sharks earlier in August.

New Zealand: Damian McKenzie; Will Jordan; Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett; Josh Moorby; Ruben Love, Cam Roigard; Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax; Josh Lord, Fabian Holland; Tupou Vaa'i, Luke Jacobsen, Ardie Savea (capt).

Replacements: Asafo Aumua, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Anton Segner, Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Anton Leinert-Brown, Leroy Carter.

South Africa

The headline news for South Africa is that Siya Kolisi has not been selected for the opening Test despite returning to training after a hamstring injury.

Pieter-Steph du Toit will captain the Springboks as Paul de Villiers joins the skipper and Jasper Wiese in the back row.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu starts at fly-half ahead of Handre Pollard and Manie Libbok, who makes the bench, while centre Damian de Allende wins his 100th cap.

South Africa: Damian Willemse; Cheslin Kolbe; Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende; Kurt-Lee Arendse; Sacha Feinberg-Mggomezulu, Grant Williams; Ox Nche,Malcolm Marx, WilcoLouw; Eben Etzebeth, Ruan Nortje; Paul de Villiers, Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt), Jasper Wiese.

Replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Zachary Porthen, Cobus Wiese, Andre Esterhuizen, Marco van Staden; Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok.

Alastair Telfer
BBC Sport

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This year's Rugby Championship - the southern hemisphere's premier international competition - has been cancelled to make room for the All Blacks' tour of South Africa, leaving Australia and Argentina to arrange their own fixtures.

The tours will be staged every four years, with New Zealand next hosting the Springboks in 2030.

It has been reported that South Africa and New Zealand want to create a product that financially rivals British and Irish Lions tours,, external, external and they expect to make millions in profit from this joint venture.

Last year's Lions tour made Australia Rugby $35m in profit, wiping out debts of £17.9m.

A report from Deloitte, which has been obtained by New Zealand media outlet Stuff,, external, external revealed the current Super Rugby Pacific model is "under strain economically, commercially, and in delivering on its high performance purpose''.

It stated that all five New Zealand provinces were cumulatively unprofitable across the past six years, with current holders the Hurricanes posting a loss of $1.4m in 2023 and almost $2m in 2025.

The competition contains teams from New Zealand, Australia and Fiji after South Africa's decision to join the United Rugby Championship in 2021.

New Zealand have lost star players to lucrative deals in Japan and Europe, with Richie Mo'unga, Jordie Barrett and Rieko Ioane - all starters in the 2023 World Cup final - having recently spent time outside their native country.

Despite not being able to match certain wages abroad, the All Blacks have a strict policy that you must play in New Zealand to be considered for international selection.

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As always, you'll be able to have your say using Get Involved.

Is South Africa v New Zealand the greatest rivalry in rugby, as this series is being marketed?

What do you make of the trophy? How much do you think it would hurt if you dropped it on your toe?

Let us know using Get Involved.

Here's how the series between South Africa and New Zealand is shaping up over the next number of weeks.

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Hi everyone!

The Nations Championship may be over for now but we've still got some international rugby for you - and it's a good one!

New Zealand are in South Africa for a four-game series as the top two sides in the world go head-to-head a year out from the World Cup.

We'll have live updates from the opening Test at Ellis Park, and it should be a good one.