Can the first Springboks v All Blacks Test live up to its Greatest Rivalry billing?

Watch South Africa v New Zealand as the two top-ranked sides in the men’s game kick off their eagerly anticipated Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test series in Johannesburg.

Both sides come into the match on great form, having 100% records in their respective Nations Championship campaigns. Now head coaches Rassie Erasmus and Dave Rennie will both be out to prove they’re the best of the best, in an epic four-Test series – the first between the two sides since 1996.  

Saturday’s hotly anticipated clash kicks off at 4.10pm BST / 5.10pm SAST / 3.10am (Sunday) NZST, and you can watch Springboks v All Blacks live streams for free in the US, in addition to many other viewing options around the world. We’ll tell you everything you need to know to tune in below – including details of how you can use a VPN to watch the match from anywhere.


Springboks v All Blacks First Test: at a glance

– South Africa v New Zealand First Test date: Saturday 22 August 2026

– South Africa v New Zealand First Test kick-off time: 4.10pm BST / 5.10pm SAST (local) / 3.10am NZST (Sunday) / 1.10am AEST (Sunday) / 5.10pm CET / 11.10am EDT / 8.10am PDT

– South Africa v New Zealand First Test venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg

– South Africa v New Zealand First Test free stream: RugbyPass TV (US)

– Watch from anywhere: Try NordVPN 100% risk-free


How to watch South Africa v New Zealand in the US – live stream First Test for free

It’s a good weekend to be a rugby fan in the US because you can watch the best two sides in the planet in action for FREE on World Rugby’s RugbyPass TV. It’s free to use but you will need to register before you can watch your Springboks v All Blacks live stream.

Kick-off is at 11.10am EDT / 8.10am PDT this morning.

If you’re away from home this weekend, a VPN can help you watch your usual South Africa v New Zealand live stream as if you were back at home. Find out more below…


Watch Springboks v All Blacks from anywhere

Feeling like you’ve picked the wrong Saturday to go on vacation? There’s no need to miss out on one of the rugby events of the year, because – even if you’re in an entirely different country – you can still watch your usual South Africa v New Zealand live streams from anywhere. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) allows you to change your IP address, meaning you can avoid geo-blocking restrictions and watch the Greatest Rivalry action as if you were sitting at home on your sofa.

The tech experts at TechRadar and Tom’s Guide both rate NordVPN as the best on the planet, thanks to its top-notch ability to unblock streaming services and security features.

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South Africa v New Zealand live streams in the UK and Ireland

Sky Sports’ new deal with SANZAAR runs until 2030, and gives it the rights to show all of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry matches.

The First Test kicks off at 4.10pm BST this afternoon and is available on both Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports+.

There are plenty of ways for Sky Sports subscribers to watch All Blacks v Springboks live streams, including the Sky Go app for desktop, iOS, Android, PlayStation and Xbox. You can check out the latest Sky Sports subscription offers at the Sky website – prices currently start at £22 per month.

If you’d rather avoid a longer contract (or just want to watch specific Greatest Rivalry games), Now Sports offers daily (£14.99) and monthly (starting from £28) plans to stream Sky Sports channels online.

Watch Springboks v All Blacks in South Africa

As is usually the case for elite rugby, SuperSport has the rights for this massive Springboks match. South Africa v New Zealand kicks off at 5.10pm SAST.

You can get SuperSport on your TV via DStv, or you can stream online. There are various SuperSport packages available, so have a look at what works best for you.


Stream Springboks v All Blacks in New Zealand

Sky Sport NZ has the New Zealand rights to the Greatest Rivalry tour, along with plenty more world-class sporting action, including the start of the new Premier League soccer season.

You can subscribe to Sky Sport Now from $59.99 per month or $549.99 per year (equivalent to $45.83 per month). Day passes are also available for $29.99.

South Africa v New Zealand gets underway at 3.10am NZST on Sunday, so get ready for a very late night or an even earlier morning.

Every Greatest Rivalry game will also be available for free on a delay via Three and the ThreeNow streaming service, though you’ll have to wait until 11am NZST (Sunday) to relive this First Test.


Other ways to watch South Africa v New Zealand around the world

Australia: The Wallabies will be playing both of these sides after the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour is done, and fans in Australia need to head to Stan Sport for Springboks v All Blacks live streams. A Stan Sport subscription costs $20 per month on top of a standard Stan plan (for which prices start at $9.99 per month). Kick-off is 1.10am AEST on Sunday morning.

Canada: Premier Sports is the place to go if you want to watch South Africa v New Zealand live streams in Canada. A monthly pass costs CA$29.99, though you can make big savings with a six-month pass (CA$79.99) or an annual subscription ($139.99). Kick-off is at 11.10am EDT / 8.10am PDT this morning.


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