South Africa vs New Zealand

Ian Foster's All Blacks are on their worst run of form since 1998 and lost a Test series to Ireland on home soil for the first time last month.

Moreover, this is a Springboks side who lost to Wales – themselves a team in need of narrative and momentum – for the first time in South Africa last month, though admittedly with a much-rotated XV. Nevertheless, they are not insurmountable opponents without weaknesses. “There are definitely some tweaks in the attack area that we are working on but some of them are just highlighting some focus points within our game that I just don’t think we got right in the last series,” Foster said. With a gameplan predicated on smothering every slightest hint of breathing space, the Springboks are less than ideal opponents for a rickety All Blacks side short of confidence.

The Rugby Championship kicks off this weekend: here's the UK start time, how to watch on TV and confirmed team line-ups.

What TV channel is South Africa v New Zealand on? What time is South Africa v New Zealand kick-off? Lucky it's only the world champions they've going to visit, then.

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for South Africa v New Zealand in the Rugby Championship on Saturday.

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Former England number eight Nick Easter previews the Rugby Championship clash between South Africa and New Zealand in Mbombela.

However, with the favourites tag they sometimes come unstuck as witnessed last season when they lost twice against the Wallabies. New Zealand need to play for both their coach and captain; I hope to see an improvement in forward play under Ryan, but given the Boks are the best team in the world at holding out one score margins, I’m expecting a close, dogged battle with South Africa winning with a scoreline around 18-16.” Their battle is one of power but both men have that offloading ability that can rip a defence open and whoever comes out on top will go a long way to winning the match for their side. “Secondly, for all the solidity of Damian de Allende, he really struggles with passing and running when the ball is coming from the left side of the field with him attacking the right side. Using his physicality to hold and draw two men to create holes for others would be a revelation – and stopping the big Boks in scramble defence is a very tough task. At maul time, they struggled and again, Ireland used this to huge advantage in the series for a number of scoring opportunities. “At the core of their issues is a defence which is at best, confused, at worst, downright disorganised.

With the Rugby Championship getting under way this weekend, Charlie Morgan picks his combined Springbok-All Black XV.

Appropriately, the South Africa skipper shunted over for the second-half try that drove the hosts to victory in the decider. His display in Wellington as New Zealand went down to Ireland was magnificent. Jasper Wiese is a growing force and it is tempting to move Savea to seven to accommodate the Leicester Tigers totem. Although Malcolm Marx arrives from the bench to bully teams at the breakdown and often seals victories with a couple of important turnovers, Mbonambi is South Africa’s go-to starter for a reason. Since a torn calf stunted his World Cup campaign before it had really begun, in the pool match loss to New Zealand, Trevor Nyakane has enjoyed something of a purple patch at international level. Being able to unleash such a potent weapon is a real luxury for Jacques Nienaber and Kitshoff, now 30, takes this berth. Rapid and wiry, he has improved his breakdown work to become even more of a nuisance and can finish as well. The blitz defence used by the Springboks is predicated upon the aggression of their wings, who push up to cut down space and rush rivals into errors. De Allende is dependable and robust, just as likely to force a counter-rucking turnover as dent the gain-line. Rieko Ioane remains a work in progress for New Zealand, especially when it comes to decision-making in phase-play while his team is in possession. A soaring take in the opening moments of the decider against Wales took the breath away and he ousts Jordie Barrett. Le Roux has also coordinated South Africa’s defensive system by rushing up to shut the door outside his own wings.