Four straight victories have given the All Blacks a perfect record on South African soil during Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour. New Zealand recorded three warm-up wins against United Rugby Championship opposition, Stormers (38-21), Sharks (54-0), and Bulls (50-19), before beating the Springboks 33-16 in Johannesburg to snap South Africa’s 12-game winning streak.
Under new head coach Dave Rennie, the All Blacks are unbeaten so far. Their on-field form has been matched by questions over how supporters around the world can watch the tour.
Broadcast strategies and player selection: Who benefits?
Broadcast arrangements vary sharply by territory. RugbyPass TV is offering a free stream for viewers in the US, while traditional pay TV giants, Sky Sports (UK), Sky Sport Now (New Zealand), and SuperSport (South Africa), retain exclusive local rights elsewhere.
Where a viewer lives, and how much they are willing to pay, dictates access to one of rugby’s marquee fixtures. Fans in major rugby nations have been left asking why a match billed as “The Greatest Rivalry” is not equally accessible worldwide.
The tour schedule is compressed, with matches between 7 August and 12 September 2026. The All Blacks’ next game, against the Lions, who finished seventh in the URC, is being treated as a final warm-up before the tour’s second Test against the Springboks. This fixture, on Tuesday 25 August, will kick off at 6.00pm BST and is available free to US viewers via RugbyPass TV.
Dave Rennie, whose tenure has started with a perfect four from four, fields Richie Mo’unga at fly-half for his first Test appearance since the 2023 World Cup. Rieko Ioane is named at centre, and Beauden Barrett starts at full-back, reportedly just shy of the New Zealand cap record. Prop Saula Ma’u is in line for a debut from the bench, while Patrick Tuipulotu captains the side.
The Lions have received reinforcements from the Springboks’ own ranks. Full-back Quan Horn and prop Boan Venter, recently signed from Edinburgh, have been released by Rassie Erasmus to bolster the hosts.
South Africa’s top national team, wounded by a landmark loss, has released players to a URC side that the All Blacks are widely expected to beat.
The All Blacks’ clean sweep has prompted debate over competitive balance and the value of the warm-up fixtures. The off-field decisions, who gets released, who gets rested and who gets to watch, have attracted as much attention as the results.
Recent form has also sharpened rugby competition predictions and created new scrutiny of how results are valued within international rugby’s commercial structures.
The All Blacks’ four-match winning streak has put pressure on Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks, who now face a “must win” narrative heading into the second Test. New Zealand will look to maintain momentum against the Lions.
