The Springboks will host New Zealand at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday, 22 August 2026, in the opening match of the four Test Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series. The fixture marks the first time since 1996 that the All Blacks have embarked on a traditional tour of South Africa, with Ellis Park hosting the opening encounter before the series moves to Cape Town, Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium and Baltimore in the United States. The Test also sees Damian de Allende earn his 100th Springbok cap, while coach Rassie Erasmus begins a carefully managed four match series that he believes will be decided later rather than in the opening fixture.