All Blacks begin historic tour of South Africa with match against Stormers in Cape Town

All Blacks forward Wallace Cityte stated that the team will approach the first match of the greatest rugby rivalry against the Stormers with the intensity characteristic of a championship match scheduled for Friday evening.

The All Blacks are not going to leave anything to chance as they prepare for this great confrontation. Wallace Cityte emphasized that every match against franchises of the United Rugby Championship (URC) from South Africa will be played with the same spirit and level of intensity as a championship match.

New Zealand begins its four-match tour against the Stormers in Cape Town on Friday, followed by matches against the Sharks and Bulls before the main match against the Springboks in Ellis Park at the end of the month.

Although mid-week games may not carry the same weight or status as championship matches, Cityte noted that the team has no intention of viewing them as anything less than elite competitions. The first such match will be against the URC winners at the opening game in the DHL Stadium on Friday (starting at 19:00).

The forward explained that they will prepare accordingly because they know the quality of the teams they will face in these matches against South African franchises.

Although the New Zealand team is not playing against local teams within Super Rugby due to an exemption, discussions in the New Zealand camp revolve around past years when they visited South Africa during the Southern Hemisphere club tournament.

The 23-year-old player has not yet been part of the Super Rugby scene, but he accepted the challenge of facing the Stormers, Bulls, Sharks, and Lions. He noted that many players talk about tours they really enjoyed and acknowledges the high quality of South African rugby. However, he added that he does not know what it will be like in practice.

The All Blacks, who received a warm welcome in Cape Town, understand that they cannot afford a slow start on Friday. Although they remain undefeated after impressive performances in the World Cup, a poor start could make them vulnerable ahead of the championship series.

For Cityte, these mid-week games provide the team with an additional opportunity to build momentum and continue developing combinations under the guidance of new head coach Dave Rennie before the series begins.

The Stormers are known for their physical power and pride themselves on their scrum and rucking maul. Similarly, the All Blacks know that the Springboks will also test them in these areas, so a strong start against the first opponent in ball possession will provide a significant boost of confidence.

Nevertheless, the Stormers also enjoy playing an expansive style of rugby, and with the prospect of two attacking players controlling the game in the halfback and winger positions, Imada Hana and junior Springbok Yaqeen Ahmed, the Kiwis will face a tough defensive test.

Cityte believes that the ability to match the South Africans in collisions will be crucial if the All Blacks want to impose their style of play. He noted that the Stormers are a big team, but also have a large forward group that likes to run with the ball and participate in collision battles, so they must be respected in attack. Furthermore, since they like to use the ball, the team must be able to match them in attack to give their backliners all the opportunities they want.

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie spoke with the press in Cape Town on Friday, where the New Zealand team was warmly welcomed by hundreds of local fans.

The All Blacks are aware of the huge challenge awaiting them in the greatest rugby rivalry against the Springboks, but they are ready for the test posed by the world champions and the United Rugby Championship franchise.

Following a heroic reception in Cape Town on Friday, the New Zealanders are preparing for their first clash with the Stormers next week at the DHL Stadium in the Mother City.

Head coach Dave Rennie confirmed on Friday that due to the war in the Middle East, the team had to use various routes to arrive in the country. However, all players, except for team captain Ardie Savea, who is on an extended leave, are already in Cape Town before the tournament starts.

According to the All Blacks coach, some athletes had to fly through Hong Kong, Perth, and Singapore. Rennie stated on Friday: 'Everyone is here except Ardie; the last group arrived this morning.' He added: 'Yes, look, we were supposed to fly through Dubai, but obviously, because of what is happening in the Persian Gulf, we had to make later changes—maybe two or three weeks ago. We managed it. One group was supposed to fly through Hong Kong, one through Singapore, and one through Perth. Ardie will arrive right after the game against the Sharks.'

He continued: 'Our first game here in Cape Town, so we will be based here until then. But once we start playing other matches, we will travel as one team. We will not leave a group here (in Cape Town) nor send another group forward. We will be in the city and supporting each other in the stands at every match.'

Since Ardie Savea has not yet arrived in South Africa, All Blacks tour captain Cody Taylor was popular among Cape Town residents. Hundreds of people welcomed New Zealand to the Mother City before the Great Rugby Rivalry against the Springboks began.

The All Blacks will first play three matches against South African franchises, starting with the Stormers, followed by encounters with the Sharks and Bulls. The first match will take place at Ellis Park (August 22), the second at the DHL Stadium (August 29), and the third at the FNB Stadium in Soweto (September 5). Their arch-rivals will play the fourth match in Baltimore, USA.

In Rennie's opinion, the team continues to develop. Nevertheless, like the Boks, they remain undefeated in 2026, which should give them a lot of confidence before the tour.

He noted: 'We are building a team and are still a new side with a lot of new staff and young players. So we are learning a lot. But we are well aware of how difficult this challenge is; they are two-time world champions, and Erasmus did a phenomenal job here.'

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus intends to keep his cards close to his chest regarding the tactics the team might employ during the upcoming series of matches against the All Blacks as part of the tour, which is one of the greatest rivalries in rugby.

Team Playing Styles

There has been much discussion about how the New Zealand team performed in the first stage of the Nations Cup against France, Italy, and Ireland. The All Blacks demonstrated a high-tempo, possession-oriented game and led the tournament statistics for meters run and number of carries.

The Springboks, conversely, utilized more kicks than any other team, defeating England, Scotland, and Wales, placing a strong emphasis on controlled kicking as a lethal attacking weapon. Nevertheless, despite the differences in their styles, it was South Africa that emerged from the first block with more points scored and more tries than their fierce rivals.

Match Preparation

Although New Zealand selected several strong runners for the trip to South Africa, it is unlikely they will deviate from their high-tempo philosophy. Speaking to the press in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Erasmus commented on New Zealand's squad selection but remained characteristically cryptic when asked how the Blacks plan to counter this choice.

Erasmus stated: 'If we field Sacchu [Fineberg-Mngomezulu], Handre [Pollard], or Mani [Libbok] at winger, we have to decide whether we are playing a kicking game or a running game.' He added that the decision would depend on which team they choose and how the All Blacks perform in franchise matches. 'We haven't done much analysis on the All Blacks, so the squad for the greatest rivalry series will only be announced after the match against Argentina.'

Additional Matches and Opportunities

In addition to the four-match series, the tour includes mid-week historical matches where the All Blacks will face South African United Rugby Championship franchises—Stormers, Sharks, Bulls, and Lions. For Erasmus, these provincial games evoke warm personal memories and represent a grand platform for local players.

He noted: 'The franchise matches are quite special. I remember playing for the Cheetahs in a mid-week match against the British and Irish Lions, as well as my first match for the Springboks against them. This jersey from the Free State is framed.' Erasmus also emphasized: 'It is a huge honour for me to play against the All Blacks. Facing the haka of these players will be an honour.'

It is worth noting that Erasmus mentioned that the doors remain wide open for local stars who may earn a spot in the national squad through these mid-week encounters. He concluded: 'There are several players we released to the provinces, and they can still make the squad by showing excellent play against the All Blacks for their franchises.'