New Zealand produced a vastly-improved performance as they put the Sharks to the sword in Durban in their second fixture of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour.
The All Blacks had been scratchy in their opening clash with the Stormers in Cape Town on Friday, but re-found their cutting edge to surge away from their hosts in Durban in the second half. Dave Rennie had shuffled his side and looked to a number of combinations that had served the New Zealand coach well during the Nations Championship, and would have been pleased to see them impress again with Ruben Love and Jordie Barrett forming a potent partnership.
Of concern, though, for the All Blacks boss was an injury to Damian McKenzie. The full-back fell awkwardly and hurt his ankle in the first half, and though he could continue for long enough to score a try and have another chalked off, McKenzie was replaced before the interval. He faces a race to be fit for the four Tests against the world champion Springboks – the first of which takes place on Saturday week in Johannesburg as a landmark series in South Africa continues.
Follow all of the latest from the tour game with our live blog below:
Sharks vs New Zealand LIVE
- New Zealand thrash Sharks 54-0 in Durban
- All Blacks had been scratchy in tour opener but impress to put hosts to the sword
- Dave Rennie's side are preparing for four Tests against the Springboks in landmark Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series
- FT: Sharks 0-54 New Zealand
- 64' – Two tries in two minutes continue New Zealand's surge (SHA 0-42 NZL)
- 54' – All Blacks begin to accelerate away (SHA 0-28 NZL)
- HT: Sharks 0-14 New Zealand
- 19' – Fehi Fineanganofo slides in for opening score (SHA 0-7 NZL)
Improved New Zealand thrash Sharks – but Damian McKenzie injury cause for concern ahead of Springboks Tests
20:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
New Zealand ran in an eight-try blitz without conceding as they romped to an emphatic 54-0 win over the Sharks in the second game of their Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour of South Africa.
It was a much more convincing performance from the tourists after Friday's scratchy opener against the Stormers in Cape Town, with their forwards, set-piece and kicking game vastly improved to set a platform upon which the backs thrived.
The Sharks started brightly but ultimately had little answer to a rampant All Blacks, with winger Fehi Fineanganofo scoring two of the tourists' tries.
Improved New Zealand thrash Sharks – but Damian McKenzie injury cause for concern
Next on deck...
20:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Well, as Nick Hatton mentioned, the Sharks are effectively in pre-season before the start of the Untied Rugby Championship campaign – it is such a strange, and demanding, schedule with which the South African players have to contend.
The All Blacks, meanwhile, are off to altitude. It’s the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday for Dave Rennie’s side as they shift up to the Highveld.
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry schedule and how to watch Springboks v All Blacks
Sharks captain Nick Hatton is next to have his say
19:56 , Harry Latham-Coyle
“It was an awesome opportunity to play against the All Blacks. Credit to them, it was a proper performance.
“We knew they were a team that wanted to play with a lot of tempo, and if you give them that ball and that tempo, they are deadly with that skillset. That’s on us to look at and get better and slowing the ball down.
“Now it is back to pre-season for another month or so. There is lots to work on, and we’ll come back stronger.”
Jordie Barrett is the man of the match
19:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle
And says... “It was a pretty greasy surface tonight, a lot of water under foot, so we are pretty proud to keep backing our skills in these conditions. It was tight at half-time, but we managed to gain a bit of ascendancy. We gave the Sharks some easy entries into our half, and on our terms, so we wanted to fix that.
“It’s about minimising those entries. The defence was pretty good tonight but we are going to have to keep getting better as this tour goes on.”
FT: Sharks 0-54 New Zealand
19:51 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A performance to please Dave Rennie: calm, collected and clinical. That looked more like the Test team we’ll see against the Springboks next Saturday in the first of four massive meetings.
FULL TIME! Sharks 0-54 New Zealand
19:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Sharks 0-54 New Zealand, 80 minutes
19:48 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Into the last minute with the Sharks on the move. Jurenzo Julius threatens to burst into space, the young outside centre stretching the legs for the first time today, really. Where’s his offload gone? Not to hand, alas. Knocked on, and that may well do us.
Sharks 0-54 New Zealand, 78 minutes
19:44 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Into the last knockings. This has felt more like the All Blacks of old, admittedly against overmatched opposition.
TRY! Sharks 0-54 NEW ZEALAND (Sam Darry, 77 minutes)
19:43 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The All Blacks raise the bat! A stroke of fortune for Sam Darry, finding a hole that looks to have been excavated by the presence of referee Matthew Carley. Ma’a Nonu is not best pleased, but the official is happy for the try to stand, taking New Zealand past 50.
Sharks 0-47 New Zealand, 75 minutes
19:42 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The Sharks can’t even get any relief with the scrum. Penalty to New Zealand inside the 22.
Sharks 0-47 New Zealand, 74 minutes
19:41 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Desperate cover to prevent another All Blacks score! Emoni Narawa wears a rueful smile as he fumbles at the end of another fluent, flowing attacking passage. Some gorgeous handling from big Josh Lord in there – the lock’s been very, very good tonight in all facets.
Sharks 0-47 New Zealand, 72 minutes
19:39 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Right, can the Sharks break their duck? They’ll be really disappointed not to have taken one of a couple of early opportunities, which might well have given a slightly different complexion to this contest.
TRY! Sharks 0-47 NEW ZEALAND (Timoci Tavatavanawai, 71 minutes)
19:37 , Harry Latham-Coyle
One-way traffic! Tasman’s Timoci Tavatavanawai celebrates with a Mako fin against the Sharks, the big centre needing none of his burl as he goes in untouched after the Sharks leave the blindside unmarked.
Ruben Love finally misses another toughie from the touchline. Not that it matters much at this juncture.
Sharks 0-42 New Zealand, 70 minutes
19:36 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A penalty allows Ruben Love to punt New Zealand down into the 22.
Sharks 0-42 New Zealand, 69 minutes
19:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The All Blacks just look in total control, though. They’ve had gainline dominance throughout, leaving the Sharks unable to build continuity in phase play and struggling in their defensive passages.
Sharks 0-42 New Zealand, 67 minutes
19:34 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A throwback carry from Ma’a Nonu gets the home crowd excited, and perhaps a few back in New Zealand, too. Ruben Love is the recipient of his Kiwi hello – the fly half would have grown up watching Nonu in Wellington in the NPC and with the Hurricanes.
The Sharks are soon turned over, and the All Blacks trap them in their own 22. A scrum penalty will allow the South African side the chance to clear.
Sharks 0-42 New Zealand, 65 minutes
19:32 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Given how scratchy they looked against the Stormers, and the tricky conditions, this has been mightily impressive in the last 20 minutes from New Zealand. Of course, this is a weak Sharks team with so many players in Springboks camp, but they just haven’t looked able to match their illustrious visitors since half time.
TRY! Sharks 0-42 NEW ZEALAND (Kyle Preston, 63 minutes)
19:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
And that’s the sort of try he would once have been part of! The All Blacks virtually go from coast-to-coast, backs and forwards interchanging expertly. Kyle Preston, like all good scrum halves, makes sure he stays in support and helps himself to the loot.
Sharks 0-35 New Zealand, 62 minutes
19:29 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ma’a Nonu, the 103-cap All Black now in his 45th year, is on for his Sharks debut.
TRY! Sharks 0-35 NEW ZEALAND (Jordie Barrett, 61 minutes)
19:28 , Harry Latham-Coyle
They will not! Jordie Barrett gets a deserved try, striding into space on the angle and all the way to the line.
Another fine conversion from Ruben Love, who I’d imagine is now penned in to that No 10 slot for the first Test.
Sharks 0-28 New Zealand, 60 minutes
19:27 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The All Blacks are really starting to fizz. Delicate handling and dastardly athleticism takes them down into the 22, and there’s advantage coming – if they need it...
Sharks 0-28 New Zealand, 58 minutes
19:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle
We haven’t seen much of Phepsi Buthelezi, which is unusual. That’s a sharp breakdown snaffle, though, on it in a flash to pilfer the pill on the floor.
Speaking of men we’ve not seen enough of, it just hasn’t happened for Zekhethelo Siyaya. The young full-back is scragged into touch as he attempts to accelerate down a channel that was much too narrow.
Semisi Ta’eiloa is the second All Blacks first capper (of sorts). He replaces Wallace Sititi in the back row.
Sharks 0-28 New Zealand, 57 minutes
19:22 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Slater hits his first lineout to settle any nerves. Or maybe not! The looping hooker is given an early carry, but slaps his hands together rather than catching the pass. He, and the ball, hit the deck.
A whole new front row on with him – Ollie Norris and Pasilio Tosi have replaced Ethan de Groot and Fletcher Newell.
Sharks 0-28 New Zealand, 55 minutes
19:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A switch at hooker for New Zealand. Asafo Aumua’s day is done, which means it is an All Blacks welcome to Bradley Slater, called up late for this tour after an injury to George Bell.
TRY! Sharks 0-28 NEW ZEALAND (Fehi Fineanganofo, 53 minutes)
19:18 , Harry Latham-Coyle
An ugly, unlovely score but Fehi Fineanganofo won’t care!
Well, it won’t make the highlight reel at the end of the year. Jordie Barrett fires the bumpers on the pinball machine with a stabby grubber, which goes nowhere in particular. Ruben Love adds his kicky input, and eventually Caleb Clarke is there to gather the loose ball and connect with his fellow wing. Fineanganofo won’t score many simpler.
Sharks 0-21 New Zealand, 51 minutes
19:16 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The Sharks lineout was pretty good in the first half, but Eduan Swart’s latest toss ends up falling to floor in a tangle of hands. The hosts recover possession but there is no chance to play off that sort of messy ball, and a high kick thereafter is knocked on by their hands. All Blacks ball, 35 metres out from their own line.
Sharks 0-21 New Zealand, 48 minutes
19:14 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Forthright carrying takes the All Blacks all of 30 metres from a midfield set-piece, with Josh Lord, Luke Jacobson and Asafo Aumua showing well. An accidental booting of the ball loses possession, though, and Kyle Preston is then penalised for failing to release the tackled player.
Luan Giliomee, the former Springboks sevens playmaker, has come on in the Sharks backlline. Vusi Moyo still out there, too.
Sharks 0-21 New Zealand, 46 minutes
19:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Now, can the All Blacks cut loose? They’ve completely nullified the Sharks since the first 10 minutes, but Dave Rennie will want to see that sort of incisiveness repeated a few more times.
TRY! Sharks 0-21 NEW ZEALAND (Caleb Clarke, 45 minutes)
19:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Gorgeous! One off the training park from New Zealand, Asafo Aumua tapping and charging and then Wallace Sititi used as an unlikely distributor in the second phase. A rainbow pass on a rainy day is mightily pretty – Caleb Clarke certainly thinks so, given it gifts him a try in the left corner.
Another excellent kick from Ruben Love bisects ‘em. Three from three for the fly half off the tee.
No try! Sharks 0-0 New Zealand, 44 minutes
19:08 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Nothing clear on the footage. No try, held up.
Back for the offside penalty.
Sharks 0-0 New Zealand, 44 minutes
19:07 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Better! Pace, power and purpose as New Zealand find space on the right edge. Jordie Barrett and Emoni Narawa, carrying the ball in one hand like a baguette, are the sort of athletes to exploit it.
Back the other way. Surely the Sharks were offside as Kyle Preston looked to sweep away to the edge? Yes, advantage coming...but has Asafo Aumua scored?
Sharks 0-0 New Zealand, 42 minutes
19:05 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Clunky from the All Blacks, too. A pretty aimless possession ends with ball kicked away, and Asafo Aumua’s lineout drill is then all out of sync. A free-kick against New Zealand, allowing the Sharks to clear.
Sharks 0-0 New Zealand, 41 minutes
19:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle
And it’s a rough resumption for the Sharks, knocking the restart on. Corne Rahl the guilty man, on earlier for Hendre Stassen.
Second half...
19:03 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Back underway.
HT: Sharks 0-14 New Zealand
18:51 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A strange game, in many ways, with neither side helped by the conditions. The Sharks started brightly but could not convert one of a couple of early opportunities, and the All Blacks have asserted themselves thereafter. Their two tries have been well-taken, even if there was dubiety about the second of them, and it’s a deserving half-time lead – on balance.
This was fun, too:
Ma’a Nonu does Kapa O Pango against the All Blacks. Yes. That’s the tweet. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/XdH3UsVPHs
— Sharks Rugby Club (@SharksRugby) August 11, 2026
HALF TIME: Sharks 0-14 New Zealand
18:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Sharks 0-14 New Zealand, 40 minutes
18:48 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A penalty at the scrum will allow New Zealand one last chance to mount an attack, should they want it. They do, it seems, kicking to touch.
A bit of a mess and a muddle, in the end. A maul that never develops, a midfield misfire, and eventually an errant pass into touch. That’ll do us for the first 40!
Sharks 0-14 New Zealand, 39 minutes
18:46 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It’s not really been Zekhethelo Siyaya’s night so far. The full-back latches on to a bouncing ball and assesses his options, which are limited. Running into Caleb Clarke and Quinn Tupaea probably wasn’t the right one, though, and the pair lock python arms around the Sharks full-back and the ball. New Zealand’s scrum as we tick into the final minute of the half.
Sharks 0-14 New Zealand, 38 minutes
18:44 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Vusi Moyo stands with hands on hips after kicking slow ruck ball straight into touch, not quite flighting his contestable right. The Sharks had made no metres with a series of about nine carries. The All Blacks have upped the gainline physicality today.
Sharks 0-14 New Zealand, 37 minutes
18:43 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The loss of Damian McKenzie does change the way New Zealand will attack. Emoni Narawa has gone to full-back but doesn’t have the same pair of playmaking hands, which might just narrow the All Blacks slightly. Jordie Barrett might have to step in a little more often as that second distributor.
Sharks 0-14 New Zealand, 36 minutes
18:42 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The Sharks haven’t really had a foothold for the last little while after a promising start.
Sharks 0-14 New Zealand, 34 minutes
18:41 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ah. Not Ruben Love’s best moment. The fly half bites off too much as he aims for the corner, mis-striking it the wrong side of the corner flag. A let-off for the Sharks.
Sharks 0-14 New Zealand, 33 minutes
18:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Jordie Barrett does make such a difference to this New Zealand team. The centre just offers such a rounded skillset at inside centre, and takes the right option more often than not. He’s unlucky that a diagonal grubber pulls up in the sodden surface, denying him a 50:22.
Damian McKenzie’s race is run, though. The full-back is finally forced off with that ankle complaint, with Emoni Narawa on as his replacement. A blow ahead of the Test series? We’ll have to wait and see on the severity.
Sharks 0-14 New Zealand, 32 minutes
18:38 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The All Blacks have kicked well, too...though not that time. Caleb Clarke’s idea is lovely, chipping for an unmarked Quinn Tupaea on the left edge. The execution? Not so nice. An ugly slice off the outside of his left boot.
Sharks 0-14 New Zealand, 30 minutes
18:37 , Harry Latham-Coyle
This has been a much more professional performance from the All Blacks off the ball after being a little loose in their kick chase in Cape Town. Fehi Fineanganofo is doing a good job in that area – he’s such a fine finisher but is coming on as an all-round wing, too.
TRY! Sharks 0-14 NEW ZEALAND (Damian McKenzie, 29 minutes)
18:34 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Damian McKenzie is moving freely again, and uses the slippery surface to his advantage now!
A cross-kick lands in the hands of Fehi Fineanganofo, who cleverly waits for McKenzie to arrive and puts him into a gap. But did McKenzie get it down before his feet were skewed into touch? Ooh, it’s close...
No conclusive evidence! “There’s so much splash from the water on the ground,” TMO Mike Adamson reluctantly utters, with McKenzie saved only by a soggy surface. I reckon he was out there, but the try stands. And Ruben Love adds another excellent touchline conversion.
Sharks 0-7 New Zealand, 27 minutes
18:31 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The best attack from the All Blacks so far, playing from inside their own half with purpose. A couple of balls out the back free the outside backs into space and Quinn Tupaea canters on the outside arc before feeding a forward, the long-striding Josh Lord, to take the movement on.
A penalty against the Sharks to end that unblemished start. Prodded into the corner by Ruben Love.
Sharks 0-7 New Zealand, 25 minutes
18:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The All Blacks put some pressure on at scrum time, but are penalised – tighthead Fletcher Newell for going to floor, Ethan de Groot on the other side for not driving straight. An easy escape of their own territory for the Sharks.
Five pens against the visitors; none, yet, against the hosts.
NO TRY! Sharks 0-7 New Zealand, 24 minutes
18:28 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A quick consultation between referee Matthew Carley and TMO Mike Adamson, and the try is chalked off!
McKenzie raises a hand of apology to his teammates. It was a tough one to gather on the move, but he’ll be disappointed not to have fully grasped it.
TRY! Sharks 0-14 NEW ZEALAND (Damian McKenzie, 23 minutes)
18:27 , Harry Latham-Coyle
And New Zealand pounce! Too loose from the home side, both in the initial option and then defensively. A kick ahead from Quinn Tupaea finds no-one at home, and Damian McKenzie slides onto it and in...
Or does he? There might have been a knock-on!
Sharks 0-7 New Zealand, 22 minutes
18:26 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It really doesn’t look easy out there. Zekhethelo Siyaya scrambles to keep a kick in play down in his own corner, but then shows his inexperience by trying something ambitious and, in the end, a bit rubbish.
It gifts attacking possession to the All Blacks...
TRY! Sharks 0-7 NEW ZEALAND (Fehi Fineanganofo, 19 minutes)
18:23 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Neatly taken! A lovely finish to a score that shows the All Blacks at their best, smart handling and different questions being asked. Lock Sam Darry draws and pops over the top of two defenders, creating just enough room for Fehi Fineanganofo to slide into the corner.
The wing’s meant to be off to Newcastle after this tour – although I think New Zealand Rugby are trying hard to find a way to keep him.
Sharks 0-0 New Zealand, 18 minutes
18:21 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Here is attacking possession for the All Blacks, stressing and straining the Sharks defence. Momentum begins to build.
Sharks 0-0 New Zealand, 15 minutes
18:19 , Harry Latham-Coyle
And that’s sharp from Kyle Preston! A scrum penalty in their own 22 is not a situation in which both scrum halves would be quick tapping, but the livewire No 9 spots space, and zips into it, with the retreating Sharks forwards unable to touch him.
He kicks ahead cannily, too, but the hard work is wasted a little by a high tackle from Fehi Fineanganofo – who only had to shepherd his man into touch for a huge territorial gain. As it is, a Sharks penalty.
Sharks 0-0 New Zealand, 14 minutes
18:18 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Swart nails his jumper at the tail, Manu Tshituka taking above his head. But Luke Jacobson single-handedly stalls the maul! That’s how you bounce back from a tough defensive moment, the openside flanker parting the home side’s bodies and getting to the ball. They won’t go anywhere with him in the heart of it.
Sharks 0-0 New Zealand, 12 minutes
18:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Yowzer, some carry! Ruan Swart leaves the All Blacks captain on his backside, Luke Jacobson tossed halfway across Durban as the burly hooker makes meaty contact. New Zealand are offside thereafter, conceding another penalty. Might Matthew Carley consider a chat with their skipper? Not just yet, but the Sharks will go again at the lineout.
Sharks 0-0 New Zealand, 11 minutes
18:14 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Damian McKenzie remains on, but he’s not moving freely. He’s a little laboured in trying to cover across to a chip kick, and thus grateful to Jordie Barrett for getting back to make a tackle and force the ball free.
Back for a penalty at the Sharks maul, with an All Black guilty of lifting a leg. Vusi Moyo pumps it down into the 22 as the Jaws theme sounds for the first time.
Sharks 0-0 New Zealand, 9 minutes
18:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Loose ruck work from the All Blacks and Nemo Roelofse does the rest! Excellent jackal from the loosehead, and that’s a chance missed by New Zealand, unable to last more than two phases in the passage before running out of clearing support.
Sharks 0-0 New Zealand, 7 minutes
18:11 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A long clearance grants space for Zekhethelo Siyaya to consider his options, the teenage full-back a little unsteady initially on his feet but soon breaking into a coltish stride. Luke Jacobson marshals the lively youngster well.
The All Blacks claim a kick near halfway and play a few phases. But that’s brilliant from Ruben Love, maturing all the time as a tactician and superbly finding space in the backfield by flipping direction as he kicks. A 50:22! Advance possession for New Zealand.
Sharks 0-0 New Zealand, 5 minutes
18:09 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It is mightily wet out there. Knock-ons each way after Ruben Love fails to track the flight of a high kick. It’ll be an All Blacks feed.
McKenzie still hasn’t rejoined play. It’s the ankle being strapped.
Sharks 0-0 New Zealand, 4 minutes
18:08 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Oh dear. A problem for Damian McKenzie, and New Zealand – the full-back takes a contestable kick very competently but lands awkwardly, and might have done a knee or ankle. On come the medics, with McKenzie calling for strapping, but it doesn’t look great.
The All Blacks clear their lines as the full-back is seen to.
Sharks 0-0 New Zealand, 3 minutes
18:07 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Bosh! A thunderous carry from Manu Tshituka, rocking back his tackler! But when Hendre Stassen ploughs for the line, he’s too high, allowing Tupou Vaa’i to get beneath him and hold him up over the line. Goalline drop out. The All Blacks survive...just.
Sharks 0-0 New Zealand, 2 minutes
18:05 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Eduan Swart finds his man at the tail, and off the Sharks go, mauling strongly as the All Blacks are ordered away. New Zealand reform well, and stall it, just about legally.
Still Sharks possession, though. Bradley Davids sends some forwards around the corner as the tough toil continues.
Sharks 0-0 New Zealand, 1 minute
18:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It’s a wobbly one to start, and a pretty wobbly reply from Jordie Barrett, too. Zekhethelo Siyaya comes charging back and then cleverly puts boot to ball, creating chaos on the damp surface. The All Blacks infringe – penalty to the Sharks just inside the visitors’ 22. Kicked to the corner.
KICK OFF!
18:03 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Matt Carley blasts his whistle and Vusi Moyo gets the action underway in Durban!
Sharks vs New Zealand
18:01 , Harry Latham-Coyle
And Nonu remains in place to perform a Haka of his own! Hmm. Verging on the ridiculous? I suppose this is pretty special for him and the 23 New Zealanders opposite him.
Sharks vs New Zealand
18:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Right then, the players are out there – time for the Haka, led today by Ruben Love for the All Blacks. The weather seems to have convinced a few in Durban to stay away, though it has relented for now.
Ma’a Nonu looks a little incongruous facing the traditional pre-match challenge he will have performed so many times before.
Sharks vs New Zealand
17:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It’s been pretty damp and dank in Durban this week, with more heavy rain forecast tonight and tomorrow. A flood warning has been in place in parts of the city – it doesn’t normally inhibit the All Blacks mind, and it’s a heck of a lot warmer than it might be on a similar night in Wellington or wherever.
Sharks vs New Zealand match officials
17:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng)
Assistant Referee 1: Karl Dickson (Eng)
Assistant Referee 2: Hollie Davidson (Sco)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
FPRO: Andrew Jackson (Eng)
They've rebadged it, you fool!
17:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Eagle-eyed viewers may notice that there is a different crest on the kit of the Sharks players tonight after a radical – and not entirely popular – rebrand. Gone is the shark with legs and ball for a much simpler, and boring, badge – though the new kit looks nice!
1996 TO 2026 - INSPIRED BY THE FIRST SHARKS TEAM TO WIN THE CURRIE CUP 🦈
— Sharks Rugby Club (@SharksRugby) August 10, 2026
Thirty years later, the legacy lives on ⚫⚪
Inspired by a classic. Made for the present. Our Currie Cup jersey honours the generation that helped define a new era of Sharks Rugby.
BLACK WHITE FOREVER… pic.twitter.com/F8tsO9YAPZ
Scrum skirmish
17:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
New Zealand struggled a bit at the scrum against the Stormers, and with Vincent Koch in the front row, one would expect the Sharks to try and get after the tourists in that area. Ethan de Groot is an outstanding loosehead, mind, and there’s plenty of power in the All Blacks pack with an extra long-limbed lineout jumper in Tupou Vaa’i on the blindside. Dave Rennie will be glad his props are getting a good test in these tour games – scrum parity could be crucial come the four games against the Springboks.
Ma'a Nonu's reunion
17:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It is fair to question whether Ma’a Nonu’s spot in the Sharks 23 might have been better used by a Sharks youngster, but it is undeniably fun for the veteran centre to be facing the All Blacks. It’s remarkable Nonu is still going at 44 – he played at the 2003 World Cup! The absence of Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor from the New Zealand squad means that there is no-one old enough to have played Test rugby with the centre, but I’m sure he can expect a friendly welcome regardless.
Team news – New Zealand
17:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Dave Rennie shuffles his All Blacks side as looks to settle on his best combinations ahead of the four Tests against the Springboks. With Codie Taylor still absent, and Ardie Savea rested for this part of the tour, Luke Jacobson leads New Zealand in Durban with Wallace Sititi fit to feature after a late withdrawal from the game against the Stormers.
Billy Proctor has been ruled out of the rest of the trip with a fractured shoulder, so Quinn Tupaea and Jordie Barrett could well form the centre partnership come the Tests and start together here. Among the replacements are two new faces: hooker Bradley Slater and back rower Semisi Ta’eiloa will pull on All Blacks shirts for the first time.
New Zealand XV: 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Asafo Aumua, 3 Fletcher Newell; 4 Josh Lord, 5 Sam Darry; 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 7 Luke Jacobson (capt.), 8 Wallace Sititi; 9 Kyle Preston, 10 Ruben Love; 11 Caleb Clarke, 12 Jordie Barrett, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 14 Fehi Fineanganofo; 15 Damian McKenzie
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Ethan Blackadder, 20 Semisi Ta’eiloa; 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Emoni Narawa.
Team news – Sharks
17:05 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The Sharks are without their Springboks contingent but still have two double World Cup winners on which to call, with prop Vincent Koch joining former All Black Ma’a Nonu in the matchday 23. Vusi Moyo is at the other end of his career but the 20-year-old is highly rated, and made his South Africa debut against Wales during the Nations Championship.
Manu Tshituka starts on the blindside flank but brother Vincent was forced to withdraw from the bench after a head injury in training, while teenage talent Zekhethelo Siyaya has caught the eye in a few URC outings at full-back.
Sharks XV: 1 Nemo Roelofse, 2 Eduan Swart, 3 Vincent Koch; 4 Hendre Stassen, 5 Deon Slabbert; 6 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Manu Tshituka, 8 Nick Hatton (capt.); 9 Bradley Davids, 10 Vusi Moyo; 11 Litelihele Bester, 12 Murray Koster, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 14 Donavan Don; 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya.
Replacements: 16 Liam van Wyk, 17 Rambo Kubekha, 18 Simphiwe Ngobese, 19 Corne Rahl, 20 Matt Romao; 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Luan Giliomee, 23 Ma’a Nonu.
Team news on the way...
17:03 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Righty then, kick off is under an hour away at Kings Park on the Durban coast – let’s take a closer look at the two teams.
All Blacks braced for another big test of basics
16:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Stand-in New Zealand captain Luke Jacobson knows his side need to tune in and improve up front after struggling at the set piece and aerially particularly against the Stormers.
“It’s an awesome challenge, an awesome opportunity for us to really dial in on maybe some things that didn't go as well for us in the last game,” the flanker said this week.
“We know how the South African teams play, they know their game, they've got their mauls, their scrums. There’s going to be upfront battles, so we're going to have to be ready to play that. I thought there were some lessons and it was a great taste of what we were going to get on this tour. I think we’ve made some good adjustments.
“The top level of South African rugby has a really good kicking game, a really good chasing game. I don't think we're going to get anything different to what we saw last week in that area.”
Eddie Hearn’s warning for rugby: ‘It’s so unambitious’
16:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Speaking of rugby’s future, I recently spent a chunk of time with Eddie Hearn, who now counts Henry Pollock and Finn Russell amongst his clients. An interesting man, with some interesting, divisive ideas.
Eddie Hearn’s warning for rugby: ‘It’s so unambitious’
The deeper significance behind South Africa and New Zealand’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series
16:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
There’s quite a lot going on with this tour, which brings together old rivals and may have a huge bearing on rugby’s future – as I attempted to explain last week:
The deeper significance behind the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series
Siya Kolisi suffers hamstring injury in huge blow to South Africa ahead of New Zealand series
16:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The Springboks, though, weren’t too hot in a fully-fledged Test against a depleted Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday – and lost captain Siya Kolisi to injury. The severity has not been confirmed yet, but Deon Fourie has been called up to the squad as cover for the South Africa skipper.
Kolisi suffers injury in huge blow to South Africa ahead of New Zealand series
All Blacks battle past Stormers in unconvincing start to South Africa tour
16:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It wasn’t necessarily a vintage All Blacks performance in Cape Town against the Stormers, even if they eventually got the job done. What bearing will a sloppy showing have on Test selection? It feels like Ruben Love has a chance to seize the No 10 shirt tonight with Beauden Barrett looking short of his best.
All Blacks battle past Stormers in unconvincing start to South Africa tour
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry schedule, kick-off times and how to watch South Africa vs New Zealand
16:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Match two of the tour takes place in Durban, with next Saturday’s Test opener in Johannesburg not far away now at all:
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry schedule and how to watch Springboks v All Blacks
Sharks vs New Zealand LIVE
11:59 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour rolls on as the All Blacks relocate to Durban for a meeting with the Sharks. Dave Rennie’s side were scratchy against the Stormers – will a better performance come today as the Springboks series looms into view?
Kick off is at 6.10pm BST.
