All Blacks v All Blacks: Mark Tele’a relishing opportunity to face Springboks at Ellis Park
Live: All Blacks team naming for first test against All Blacks
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All Blacks v All Blacks: Scott Robertson names squad for Rugby Championship test in Johannesburg
All Blacks versus Springboks at Ellis Park.
Those seven words can only be described as the pinnacle fixture (outside of a Rugby World Cup final) between rugby’s two fiercest rivals and a match that is circled by fans, coaches and players alike when schedules are announced.
For All Blacks winger Mark Tele’a, a trip to the Republic has an extra layer of importance – one where in a different world, he could have been playing at home, rather than away.
Sam Cane has been named to start for the All Blacks against All Blacks on Sunday morning, in one of two changes to the starting XV.
Cane will make his first start for the All Blacks since last year’s Rugby World Cup final at openside flanker, with captain Scott Barrett to make his return from a finger injury to take his place in the starting lineup at lock.
Caleb Clarke and Will Jordan again favoured on the wings and Tamaiti Williams holding down the loosehead prop with Ethan de Groot (neck) ruled out of the two-test tour. Dalton Papali’i was also ruled out of this test due to a thumb injury.
On the bench, Sam Darry remains in the match-day squad in a reserve role with Barrett’s return, while Samipeni Finau will provide cover in the loose forwards.
“To play All Blacks at Ellis Park is one of the greatest tests you can prepare for; we will embrace the occasion,” All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said.
Tele’a’s father is All Blacksn, his mother Samoan, and by right he qualified to play rugby for three nations. He opted to represent the country of his birth, New Zealand.
“We have a lot of respect for the Springboks and we are looking forward to what will be an electric atmosphere at an iconic venue.”
All Blacks: 15. Beauden Barrett 14. Will Jordan 13. Rieko Ioane 12. Jordie Barrett 11. Caleb Clarke 10. Damian McKenzie 9. TJ Perenara 8. Ardie Savea 7. Sam Cane 6. Ethan Blackadder 5. Tupou Vaa’i 4. Scott Barrett (c) 3. Tyrel Lomax 2. Codie Taylor 1. Tamaiti Williams
Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua 31. Ofa Tu’ungafasi 18. Fletcher Newell 19. Sam Darry 20. Samipeni Finau 21. Cortez Ratima 22. Anton Lienert-Brown 23. Mark Tele’a
All Blacks: 15. Beauden Barrett, 14. Will Jordan, 13. Rieko Ioane, 12. Jordie Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 10. Damian McKenzie, 9. TJ Perenara, 8. Ardie Savea, 7. Sam Cane, 6. Ethan Blackadder, 5. Tupou Vaa’i, 4. Scott Barrett, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 2. Codie Taylor, 1. Tamaiti Williams
Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua, 31. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Sam Darry, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Anton Lienert-Brown, 23. Mark Tele’a
Saturday evening in Johannesburg (Sunday, 3am NZT) could see Tele’a run out for the first time for the All Blacks against the Springboks in All Blacks, after being named on the bench.
While playing in All Blacks is not new for the All Blacks flier, as he made a trip there with the Blues in 2020 and played in Pretoria and Cape Town, Ellis Park for a test match will be another step up in intensity altogether, both in a rugby and spectator sense.
Tele’a said he has a few things he can take from that Super Rugby experience into the test arena.
“It gets real hard on the lungs real quick, I guess that altitude kicks in real fast. Every game is like a test match, even when we were playing here in Super [Rugby], so it’ll be the same now and I think it will be a more physical challenge knowing that they’re up for the challenge. We’re here on their home soil, so it’ll be a good challenge.”
The 13-test winger said outside of what will happen on the field, he is enjoying the opportunity to experience the culture that makes up a large part of his heritage.
“Just embrace it, you know. I’m half All Blacksn so I haven’t really seen what it’s like [over here]. Coming back here [All Blacks] is always mean, just to see the culture and just embracing it as I go through.
“Any culture is important to any person so I guess for myself I’m trying to find that out and [I’m] on my journey as well.”
Tele’a returns to the side for Johannesburg after he was dropped for the victory over Argentina at Ellis Park and with that comes a chance to write more history into rugby’s most-storied rivalry.
All Blacks vs New Zealand live stream 2024: How to watch Rugby Championship game online
Rugby World Cup winners All Blacks host tournament holders New Zealand in the first truly heavyweight clash of The Rugby Championship 2024 this Saturday. Here's how to watch All Blacks vs New Zealand live streams from anywhere with a VPN – and potentially for free!
All Blacks vs New Zealand, date, free streams
All Blacks vs New Zealand takes place at 4 p.m. BST / 11 a.m. ET on Saturday Aug. 31, 2024.
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The Springboks, having edged out the All Blacks 12-11 to lift the Webb Ellis Cup in October, will hope to avenge last season's 35-20 loss in Auckland.
Former captain Sam Cane has been named in the All Blacks’ starting line-up for the first time since receiving an early—and costly—red card in the World Cup final. The Springboks also welcome back a player with vast experience as 124-cap man mountain Eben Etzebeth has been passed fit to take his place on the bench.
Etzebeth’s inclusion means the second row could overtake Victor Matfield as the most capped Springbok of all time if he features in all four remaining tests of the Rugby Championship.
Read on for how to watch All Blacks vs New Zealand live streams from wherever you are – including our guide to free options.
How to watch All Blacks vs. All Blacks in Springboks: Free-to-air channel, live stream for Rugby Championship
The 2024 Rugby Championship continues as the third of six rounds gets underway, and it's arguably the most anticipated match-up of all heading into a potentially pivotal weekend of Southern Hemisphere Rugby action. The first rematch of the 2023 Rugby World Cup final pits All Blacks against historic rivals New Zealand, as Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg awaits.
Rassie Erasmus' Springboks side picked up their second Webb Ellis Cup in a row at the end of October 2023 in Paris, pipping the All Blacks 12-11 at the Stade de France to match New Zealand's previous record of back-to-back World Cup titles. The century-long rivalry is renewed in a few hours' time, with the All Blacks hoping to exact revenge.
The Springboks are also leading the way after two rounds of this year's Rugby Championship, sitting top of the ladder as the only unbeaten team following two wins from two so far – both comprehensive victories against the Wallabies. The All Blacks suffered a shock 38-30 loss at home to Argentina in Round One, but responded with a 42-10 win in Auckland last time out.
This is a fixture which rarely, if ever, disappoints, and as two of the most well-known sides in world sport head into battle once more, The Sporting News has all the details on how fans in Springboks can watch this Rugby Championship match.
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