Overview
- Kick-off is Saturday 13 September at Sky Stadium in Wellington at 8.05am BST, with UK coverage on Sky Sports.
- South Africa sit a win behind the leaders and need a result to stay in Rugby Championship contention, with the fixture widely viewed as pivotal.
- Rassie Erasmus makes seven starting changes including new halves Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, a Moodie–Willemse midfield, Siya Kolisi as captain, Jasper Wiese at No 8, and a Test debut for wing Ethan Hooker.
- Scott Robertson hands a first cap to winger Leroy Carter, recalls Noah Hotham at scrum-half, starts Damian McKenzie at full-back, and loads the bench with impact options including props Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell plus playmaker Ruben Love.
- New Zealand won 24-17 at Eden Park last week, but Wellington has been less forgiving for the hosts, with South Africa winning there in 2018, while bookmakers make the All Blacks favourites at 8-15 against 7-4.