New Zealand were made to work hard for victory as they began their tour of South Africa with a competitive 38-21 win over the Stormers in Cape Town.
Dave Rennie’s side will play eight matches across the next few weeks, including four Tests against the Springboks, as part of the new “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” reciprocal touring agreement. These tour games offer an opportunity for the new head coach to examine his depth, but a sloppy performance in parts may not have pleased Rennie. The tourists did, though, have enough to power away late on, with the All Blacks forced to flex their muscles with much of their attacking play failing to fire.
While the Stormers fell short, this was another showing to illustrate the depth within South African rugby – and home coach John Dobson could rue some rough injury luck that forced him to replace two scrum halves and finish the game with a flanker on the wing.
Follow all of the latest from the clash in Cape Town with our live blog below:
Stormers vs New Zealand LIVE
- Stormers make New Zealand battle for 38-21 victory in competitive clash in Cape Town
- Fixture kicked off the new Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series
- All Blacks set to face Springboks in four Tests in four weeks
- FT: Stormers 21-38 New Zealand
- 76' – Two tries in quick succession allow New Zealand to pull away (STO 14-33 NZL)
- 56' – Stormers score superbly to level affairs (STO 14-14 NZL)
- HT: All Blacks strike just before interval to take narrow lead (STO 7-14 NZL)
- 14' – All Blacks reduced to 13 men after two yellow cards (STO 0-7 NZL)
All Blacks battle past Stormers in unconvincing start to landmark tour
20:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Here’s the full report on the Stormers putting up a real fight but eventually being overcome by the All Blacks:
All Blacks battle past Stormers in unconvincing start to South Africa tour
FT: Stormers 21-38 New Zealand
19:58 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A perfect start, really, to this Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour – the All Blacks sloppy but successful against spirited opposition, who will rue some poor injury luck and their own missed chances. A good crowd in Cape Town there to enjoy it, too. Pleasing fare to open the series!
FULL TIME! Stormers 21-38 New Zealand
19:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle
TRY! Stormers 21-38 NEW ZEALAND (Asafo Aumua, 81 minutes)
19:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle
There’s the exclamation point! Asafo Aumua with the finish after roaring away from a rumbling maul – the hooker is tough to stop at the best of times, let alone for the Stormers backs exposed on the fringes there.
That’ll do it in Cape Town.
Stormers 21-33 New Zealand, 80 minutes
19:53 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Well, that’s one way to slam the door shut. An emphatic scrum shove from the All Blacks to earn a penalty and one last tilt at the hosts’ line.
PENALTY TRY! STORMERS 21-33 New Zealand (78 minutes)
19:51 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A twist? It’s a penalty try, with Moorby deemed to have denied Warrick Gelant the chance to place the ball on the line.
Surely too little, too late...but the Stormers will have about 90 seconds more against a 14-man All Blacks as Moorby is sent to the sin bin for a cynical act.
Stormers 14-33 New Zelanad, 78 minutes
19:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Oh, the Stormers have had their chances! The defence opens up in front of Warrick Gelant and the full-back hurries through it, and very nearly to the line. He’s just felled and can’t contort the ball to ground – although TMO Andrew Jackson isn’t sure that Josh Moorby’s denying actions are legal...
TRY! Stormers 14-33 NEW ZEALAND (Josh Moorby, 76 minutes)
19:47 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ah...Hacjivah Dayimani isn’t a winger! A tough moment for the flanker forced into an unfamiliar role, trying his best to play the part as he attempts a clearance but failing to clear the midriff of a blocking Josh Moorby. Moorby scurries, scoops, and scores.
Stormers 14-28 New Zealand, 75 minutes
19:46 , Harry Latham-Coyle
That may be the Stormers’ chances gone...particularly if they keep missing lineouts like that. JJ Kotze overshoots his target at the tail after New Zealand had conceded a penalty to allow the hosts a chance.
TRY! Stormers 14-28 NEW ZEALAND (Leroy Carter, 74 minutes)
19:44 , Harry Latham-Coyle
And there’s no team better at exploiting it! It’s all athleticism, really, from Peter Lakai and Leroy Carter, the former providing the step and gas and outrageous backdoor offload, the latter the fast feet and contact balance to finish off the initial line break.
Josh Jacomb knocks over the conversion.
Stormers 14-21 New Zealand, 72 minutes
19:43 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It looks like Dayimani has been doing this all his life! He retreats to cover an excellent kick, and then shows a deft feint to get away from an All Blacks chaser.
The Stormers soon fumble, though, and allow New Zealand broken-field ball...
Stormers 14-21 New Zealand, 70 minutes
19:41 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Senatla has indeed picked up scrum half duties, with the athletic Hacjivah Dayimani moving to the right side. He can shift, too, as he shoes when the Stormers manage to get the ball in the hands of the flanker-cum-wing.
Stormers 14-21 New Zealand, 69 minutes
19:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle
And this is a blow for the Stormers: replacement scrum half Dewaldt Duvenage is being helped off. Having lost Imad Khan early, there is no cover left, and no backs at all on the bench to come on. Wandile Mlaba, a back rower, is sent for, but we’ll see how they reshuffle. Seabelo Senatla to nine with his sevens experience?
Josh Jacomb has stepped in for Beauden Barrett at fly half for New Zealand.
TRY! Stormers 14-21 NEW ZEALAND (Rieko Ioane, 68 minutes)
19:39 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The dam bursts! It’s all pick and goes and close-in pops from the All Blacks, and the Stormers can’t handle their power. Rieko Ioane – now stationed at outside centre after Billy Proctor’s injury – joins in the fun, spotting space close to a ruck and scooping the ball off the floor to exploit it.
He goes in a little too easily. Beauden Barrett adds the extra two.
Stormers 14-14 New Zealand, 67 minutes
19:37 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The All Blacks vary their strategy, going much more direct. The forwards take the lead with Cortez Ratima keeping things fizzing.
Stormers 14-14 New Zealand, 65 minutes
19:36 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It just hasn’t quite clicked for the All Blacks’ outside backs today. Mike Blair, the former Scotland scrum half who now serves as New Zealand’s attack coach, wears an inscrutable face but it will frustrate him how often the last pass has been inaccurate. Twice it happens here, with Josh Moorby popping behind Leroy Carter and Caleb Clarke then leaving one on the shoelaces of the former sevens star. Carter can’t clutch it.
Stormers 14-14 New Zealand, 63 minutes
19:34 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A penalty against Yaqeen Ahmed for failing to roll away allows the All Blacks a simple escape from their own 22. A bit sloppy from Ahmed, who allowed himself to get trapped in.
We got the moves 🕺 #STOvNZ #inittogether pic.twitter.com/psobAkp3H2
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) August 7, 2026
Stormers 14-14 New Zealand, 62 minutes
19:33 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A mighty ovation for World Cup winner Deon Fourie as the flanker takes leave. Keke Morabe takes up position on the openside flank for the Stormers.
Stormers 14-14 New Zealand, 61 minutes
19:31 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Try-saving cover from Sam Darry! That’s magnificent from the lock replacement, striding back in the nick of time to prevent both Evan Roos and Wandisile Simelane grounding the latter’s clever little chip kick ahead. It looked a certainty that Darry would get reeled in, but he had just enough length in those limbs.
Stormers 14-14 New Zealand, 58 minutes
19:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The Stormers fancy this, clearly. A bit of a miscommunication between Wandisile Simelane and Yaqeen Ahmed ends their latest string of phases, but it is the hosts who feel in greater control of the contest again.
The All Blacks make a few more changes, with Ethan Blackadder on 30 years after his father Todd was part of the “Incomparables”, the New Zealand side that conquered this land.
TRY! STORMERS 14-14 New Zealand (Seabelo Senatla, 56 minutes)
19:27 , Harry Latham-Coyle
And now Deon Fourie gives the try-scoring pass to a flying Seabelo Senatla!
Hot knife through butter! The former sevens star lurks on his flanker’s shoulder and then hits the line with irresistible timing and pace, jetting under the posts. A bow to the crowd, and the conversion that follows levels affairs.
Stormers 7-14 New Zealand, 55 minutes
19:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Deon Fourie is enjoying this. 40 in September, but still so good over the ball, that squat frame anchoring as he limpets on the ball to win a second or third jackal penalty of the evening.
Stormers 7-14 New Zealand, 52 minutes
19:24 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Brilliant from the Stormers...but even better from Leroy Carter! Lightning sharp thinking from Yaqeen Ahmed sparks the hosts, wandering towards the spot of a penalty pretending to punt, but instead tapping and going and catching the All Blacks napping.
Andre-Hugo Venter, the hooker, shows an impressive turn of speed to accelerate away, and Warrick Gelant keeps the move rolling. Carter, though, gets back with a few colleagues and makes sure he is in position to contest breakdown ball as a slower-arriving Stormer knifes off their feet. Penalty New Zealand – but a real sign of Ahmed’s ingenuity and talent.
Stormers 7-14 New Zealand, 51 minutes
19:22 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The German-born Segner is bloodied and bruised, though he is that sort of player. A grafter. As a reminder, he was called in late to start after Wallace Sititi’s withdrawal.
The Stormers get a nudge on at the scrum and new-man Siale Lauaki is penalised.
Stormers 7-14 New Zealand, 49 minutes
19:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A superb lineout take from Patrick Tuipulotu...but squandered by a forward pass as New Zealand attempt to work something intricate at the tail. Not really sure of the conception of that move, there, with Anton Segner peeling away from the maul to support Samisoni Taukei’aho peeling around the corner, yet always ahead of his hooker. A forward pass thus felt inevitable.
Stormers 7-14 New Zealand, 48 minutes
19:18 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Two penalties against the Stormers allow the pressure to build. Pasilio Tosi is replaced by Hurricanes teammate Siale Lauaki, wearing an All Blacks jersey for the first time.
Stormers 7-14 New Zealand, 46 minutes
19:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Flip the field! The Stormers fumble within metres of the New Zealand line just as they seemed to be building a head of steam, and the All Blacks take advantage. Anton Lienert-Brown leads a counter-offensive and smartly kicks long, allowing Rieko Ioane and co. to pour through. Warrick Gelant, Wandisile Simelane and the rest do well to ensure an escape of sorts but the All Blacks will mount another offensive from 25 metres out.
Stormers 7-14 New Zealand, 45 minutes
19:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Needless and naughty from Beauden Barrett, tugging on the shirt of Seabelo Senatla with the wing set to beat him again in the aerial contest. Barrett looks a man short of rugby, to be honest – it’s not been a performance so far from him to suggest Dave Rennie was wrong to omit him in the Nations Championship.
The Stormers will prod into the right corner as Billy Proctor is seen to. A shoulder, I think – at best a stinger, at worst a tour-ender. His race is run tonight, though, with Caleb Clarke introduced.
Ntuthuko Mchunu is thrown into the Stormers front row.
Stormers 7-14 New Zealand, 44 minutes
19:13 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Simelane’s fast feet first caught the eye at U20 level years back, though that isn’t the best use of his hot-stepping, jumping sideways straight into the arms of a burly All Black. Billy Proctor, his opposite outside centre, seems to have hurt himself as the Stormers play on.
Stormers 7-14 New Zealand, 43 minutes
19:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A surprise change from the Stormers as the very talented Wandisile Simelane is thrown on early for captain Ruhan Nel. Perhaps an injury or HIA? Yes, looks like a calf, judging by the strapping being applied.
That’s both backs replacements on now for the Stormers with a long while left.
Stormers 7-14 New Zealand, 42 minutes
19:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The Stormers know they are getting some joy in the air, and won’t be afraid to go to the boot. Warrick Gelant fulfils that brief with Yaqeen Ahmed tied up on the floor following a first phase carry, and then produces something flatter and firmer, trapping the All Blacks in their own 22 after phase play stalls.
Second half...
19:09 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Back underway...in inauspicious fashion. Beauden Barrett fails to fly the restart 10 metres. Amateur stuff from the 144-cap international.
HT: Stormers 7-14 New Zealand
18:56 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Enjoyable stuff in Cape Town, with a scrappy skirmish and a proper contest whetting the appetite for this tour. The All Blacks started fast but were then rocked at the set-piece particularly – and will be pretty pleased to escape with a seven-point lead having, at one stage, been down to 13 men.
Back for more in a bit.
HALF TIME: Stormers 7-14 New Zealand
18:54 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Stormers 7-14 New Zealand, 40 minutes
18:53 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ah, one that Yaqeen Ahmed would like back – the Stormers earn a last opportunity as the hooter sounds, winning possession high up the pitch, but their young fly half hurries back into the pocket and then launches a wobbly, wounded duck. His drop goal falls well wide and that’ll do us for the first 40.
TRY! Stormers 7-14 NEW ZEALAND (Simon Parker, 39 minutes)
18:52 , Harry Latham-Coyle
And Simon Parker finishes the job! Cortez Ratima ups the tempo following that break, tapping a breakdown penalty at speed. With Rieko Ioane’s wing vacant, the blindside Parker takes up position as the end man on the line and rides two would-be tacklers to the line.
Beauden Barrett converts impressively from the extreme left edge.
Stormers 7-7 New Zealand, 38 minutes
18:51 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ioane does it himself! A lineout steal at the front by New Zealand and Ioane zips through a gaping hole in the Stormers’ midfield defence.
Stormers 7-7 New Zealand, 37 minutes
18:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Well, the ambition that the All Blacks showed during the Nations Championship remains...though not, so far, the accuracy. Two pull-back passes hit the deck in a single sequence, the second of them from Anton Segner trundling into touch behind Rieko Ioane.
Frustration on the face of the wing.
Stormers 7-7 New Zealand, 35 minutes
18:47 , Harry Latham-Coyle
That’s a very tidy defensive set from the Stormers. The All Blacks throw plenty of different shapes at them but can’t make much headway, and Warrick Gelant jackals with expert technique on an isolated Anton Lienert-Brown.
Stormers 7-7 New Zealand, 33 minutes
18:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle
An even wackier 60 seconds as both sides trade wild hacks at a bouncing ball over near the touchline. The Stormers are eventually penalised for playing the ball on the floor...though I think both had actually knocked on beforehand.
Anyway, into the home half the All Blacks go.
Stormers 7-7 New Zealand, 31 minutes
18:43 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The All Blacks haven’t looked aerially secure. Seabelo Senatla gets high in the sky in pursuit of a hoist and fools Beauden Barrett by not trying to catch it. Senatla thus toes it on with Barrett beaten, though Rieko Ioane is just about there as cover to prevent the Stormers wing scuttling to the ball and then perhaps the line thereafter.
A scrappy spell.
Stormers 7-7 New Zealand, 30 minutes
18:42 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Karl Dickson gives the props clemency this time with a slippery surface causing some issues in Cape Town. But still we can’t have a proper scrum! It’s totally unstable on engagement, with Pasilio Tosi picked out as the guilty party. Dickson hasn’t really got control in that area.
Stormers 7-7 New Zealand, 28 minutes
18:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Butchery! Oh dear, oh dear – it’s so un-All Blacks as Josh Moorby first eschews a simple pass to instead take contact and throw a trickier one, which Billy Proctor will still be disappointed to have dropped. The line was begging...
Stormers 7-7 New Zealand, 27 minutes
18:38 , Harry Latham-Coyle
And it is amazing how things can swing. Pasilio Tosi and Vernon Matongo go down for the third time today at the scrum, and it is the latter who is this time penalised. All Blacks on the attack for the first time in a while.
Stormers 7-7 New Zealand, 26 minutes
18:37 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A bit of fortune for the All Blacks as Hacjivah Dayminani fumbles as he seeks a teammate having made an initial bust through contact. Back comes Parker to restore them to full complement having ridden out, I think, the storm(ers).
A good game, this, though, a proper contest to kick start the tour.
Stormers 7-7 New Zealand, 24 minutes
18:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Anton Lienert-Brown has returned, though, and helps the All Blacks re-steel defensively. A minute or so left on Simon Parker’s sin binning, which ticks away as New Zealand play phases 15 metres from their own line.
There is clearly limited appetite from Dave Rennie’s men to simply kick clear. Cortez Ratima eventually does...but the Stormers throw it quickly.
Stormers 7-7 New Zealand, 23 minutes
18:34 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It’s amazing how much Yaqeen Ahmed already looks like a 30-year-old playmaker. The fly half has barely played any senior rugby but is in complete control here, sending up a couple of contestable kicks with perfect amplitude and weight. Leolin Zas gets to the second of them, beating Beauden Barrett in the air and earning an attacking opportunity for the Stormers.
Stormers 7-7 New Zealand, 21 minutes
18:32 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Some relief as the Stormers misfire at the lineout. Cortez Ratima hooks a clearance to about 30 metres.
Stormers 7-7 New Zealand, 20 minutes
18:31 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The All Blacks just can’t get a set-piece foothold. Another maul penalty and back into their 22 they are forced once more.
Stormers 7-7 New Zealand, 18 minutes
18:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The Stormers have really settled after that tough 10 minutes. Another scrum penalty their way affords an opportunity to spread to width, and only some sharp scrambling from Billy Proctor prevents Seabelo Senatla from zooming down the right tramlines.
Pasilio Tosi the man pinged again at scrum time. He had a fine year with the Super Rugby Pacific champion Hurricanes, but the converted back rower is still developing as a scrummager.
Stormers 7-7 New Zealand, 16 minutes
18:27 , Harry Latham-Coyle
News from the bunker – Anton Lienert-Brown’s yellow card will remain a yellow card. Still, though, this is a long period for the All Blacks to have to play with 13 men.
TRY! STORMERS 7-7 New Zealand (Deon Fourie, 15 minutes)
18:26 , Harry Latham-Coyle
That one will count! And it’s the 39-year-old who is the buried beneficiary, Deon Fourie wriggling free as the Stormers ploughed through the undermanned New Zealand pack.
Can Yaqeen Ahmed convert from the touchline? Bingo! 7-7.
NO TRY! But a yellow card! Stormers 0-7 New Zealand
18:24 , Harry Latham-Coyle
In fact, scratch that – TMO Andrew Jackson disagrees with Karl Dickson and convinces the referee that the Stormers had been illegal in their second drive...
But New Zealand’s Simon Parker is deemed to have infringed beforehand, and is sent to the sin bin! The All Blacks down to 13 men.
TRY! STORMERS 7-7 New Zealand (Andre-Hugo Venter, 14 minutes)
18:21 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A reply in kind! Anything you can do, New Zealand, as the Stormers rumble and grumble and tumble all the way to the line.
The All Blacks may feel Andre-Hugo Venter as his two bodyguards detached from the maul, but the officials are all happy. Yaqeen Ahmed knocks over the extras and it’s seven apiece.
YELLOW CARD! Stormers 0-7 New Zealand, 12 minutes
18:19 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It is that Roche carry, and there’s clear head contact from Anton Lienert-Brown – a yellow card at least as referee Karl Dickson refers the incident to the TMO bunker.
Lienert-Brown trudges to the sin bin. New Zealand’s 14 men will have to mount another goalline stand.
Stormers 0-7 New Zealand, 12 minutes
18:18 , Harry Latham-Coyle
This is some response from the Stormers. The All Blacks are toiling, advantage against them again, and on the back foot as burly centre Jonathan Roche crashes towards the line.
Cross-kick from Yaqeen Ahmed...just fumbled by Seabelo Senatla! A nice idea, and so nearly perfectly executed.
Two penalisable infringements in the sequence nonetheless force referee Karl Dickson to warn Patrick Tuipulotu about his team’s discipline...and an upright tackle from Anton Lienert-Brown may draw further scrutiny...
Stormers 0-7 New Zealand, 10 minutes
18:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Deon Fourie! The ageless wonder shows Rieko Ioane his gnarled muscles as he simply overpowers the winger on the back of a maul drive that had already earned penalty advantage. 40 next month, the flanker/hooker, who put in such a sterling shift in the World Cup final after Bongi Mbonambi’s early injury.
Anyway, back for that penalty, and into the corner the Stormers can prowl.
Stormers 0-7 New Zealand, 9 minutes
18:14 , Harry Latham-Coyle
There is some joy for the Cape Town club. Pasilio Tosi folds in on the first engagement for scrum skirmish. One in the win column for the Zimbabwe-born Vernon Matongo.
The Stormers will advance again with Simon Parker penalised at the resultant lineout.
Stormers 0-7 New Zealand, 8 minutes
18:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Knock-on by Barrett. It’ll be a Stormers scrum feed – but they just haven’t been able to handle the All Blacks in phase play so far.
Stormers 0-7 New Zealand, 7 minutes
18:11 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Oh, bless. Poor Imad Khan is in floods of tears beneath a towel after that early injury.
The All Blacks, meanwhile, are threatening to run rampant. Cortez Ratima breaks almost immediately after the restart, and Beauden Barrett then hits a delicious line to part the recovering Stormers defence. He can’t quite get to his grubber with those legs perhaps starting to fade with age, but what’s the restart? Did Barrett knock-on? Or was it all home hands, and thus a five-metre scrum?
TRY! Stormers 0-7 NEW ZEALAND (Samisoni Taukei'aho, 6 minutes)
18:09 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Can they ever? A statement of intent and a show of force as New Zealand grind down the home pack with an inexorable drive.
Samisoni Taukei’aho has ridden this chariot plenty of times before. The All Blacks are up and running.
Stormers 0-0 New Zealand, 5 minutes
18:08 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The Stormers stall the initial maul...but illegally, hauling it down. Beauden Barrett repeats the trick.
Samisoni Taukei’aho hits his jumper again at the front. Can the All Blacks rumble over?
Stormers 0-0 New Zealand, 4 minutes
18:07 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Eek! This could be nasty for Imad Khan, the Stormers scrum half. Off the ball, he goes down in pain with a non-contact injury – it looks like a knee, and potentially a serious one. He’s helped away by the medics as the veteran Dewaldt Duvenage is brought on.
Beauden Barrett prods to the right corner. A real shame for Khan, a really talented young half-back who could now face a long lay-off.
Stormers 0-0 New Zealand, 3 minutes
18:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Imad Khan rather hurriedly hurls the ball back to Warrick Gelant after the lineout, and Geland belts the ball upfield. But the All Blacks are alive! Another hasty lineout and Leroy Carter bursts into space down the right touchline.
Penalty now to New Zealand inside the Stormers 22. I doubt it is a night for three points.
Stormers 0-0 New Zealand, 2 minutes
18:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Yaqeen Ahmed has to hurry in at scrum half with Imad Khan otherwise occupied. Khan dusts himself off and clears to touch, though New Zealand throw quickly and return on the offensive.
That’s good defence, though, from the Stormers. Rieko Ioane is dragged out by an ankle having initially been found by a crossfield kick by Beauden Barrett. Smart recovery work from Seabelo Senatla and co.
Stormers 0-0 New Zealand, 1 minute
18:03 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ambition immediately from New Zealand, playing out the back twice inside their own 22 and eventually to the left edge, where Rieko Ioane makes metres.
And off goes Peter Lakai! A thunderous carry from the No 8, and up into the Stormers half.
Beauden Barrett threads a grubber in behind to trap the hosts in. Stormers possession seven metres from their own line.
KICK OFF!
18:02 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Up and running in Cape Town as Yaqeen Ahmed hoists the opening kick off.
Haka
18:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
A roar around DHL Stadium as the Stormers unite to face the Haka – led by Rieko Ioane on his All Blacks return. A mean-mugging Patrick Tuipulotu heads the All Blacks as they assemble in formation.
Tasty. Long way to go, lads, but it’s a strong start from the Kiwis as they lay their first challenge down.
Anthems
17:57 , Harry Latham-Coyle
There will be anthems, too, which feels entirely unneeded. Craig Lucas nonetheless does a pleasant job of “God Defend New Zealand”, while Dr Darren Green works through the South African anthem with a little extra accompaniment.
Stormers vs New Zealand
17:54 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The DHL Stadium has given this full billing, a lights show and fireworks upping the atmosphere as the teams ready themselves. All very impressive – though perhaps unnecessary for a tour game.
Stormers vs All Blacks match officials
17:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
ARs: Matthew Carley (Eng) & Hollie Davidson (Sco)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (Eng)
FPRO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
All Blacks forced into late change
17:48 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ah – a real blow for Wallace Sititi, scratched late from the All Blacks team. In comes Anton Segner to the openside, with Peter Lakai moving across to No 8.
Experienced heads
17:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Longer in the tooth than Sititi but nonetheless looking to stake a claim to starting shirts might be Beauden Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown and Rieko Ioane in the All Blacks backline. Ioane was not part of the Nations Championship squad after his year at Leinster, but joins his fellow veterans in getting a chance to fire in a New Zealand side that will be backed again to play with ball in hand.
Barrett’s role over the next year or so will be fascinating as Dave Rennie builds towards a World Cup. Ruben Love was rock solid, but perhaps not spectacular, in July, and you can’t buy 144 Tests worth of experience. A start at some stage in the Springboks series feels a certainty, but Barrett will still have designs on the No 10 shirt in the longer term.
Wallace Sititi hoping to force his way back into Test mix
17:30 , Reuters
New Zealand back rower Wallace Sititi said it had been tough to be dropped from the team for their last Test match – but is aware that he had to be at his best to get back his place in the side.
The 23-year-old was a surprise omission from the All Blacks side who hammered Ireland 40-21 in Auckland in the last of their three Nations Championshipmatches last month. Sititi had started the previous week against Italy but, despite a comfortable 47-17 victory in Wellington, made too many mistakes for coach Dave Rennie’s liking.
The new All Blacks coach said he had made it clear toSititi what he needed to fix, but when asked on Monday if he had a clear idea of what needed to be done to get back in the side, the Chiefs forward evaded the question. “Look, I'm just trying to enjoy the footing; playing at my best is the focus,” Sititi said – though this feels a real opportunity to impress before Ardie Savea arrives on tour.
Team news – New Zealand
17:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Patrick Tuipulotu captains New Zealand from the second row with Ardie Savea rested from the start of this tour and Codie Taylor not involved. Tuipulotu partners Fabian Holland, a welcome returnee at lock, while Simon Parker, Peter Lakai and Wallace Sititi form a mobile loose forward trio.
Beauden Barrett gets an opportunity to impress having been out of favour during the Nations Championship, while the uncapped Siale Lauaki and Josh Jacomb will wear an All Blacks shirt for the first time as tighthead and fly-half cover respectively.
New Zealand XV: 1 George Bower, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3 Pasilio Tosi; 4 Fabian Holland, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu (capt.); 6 Simon Parker, 7 Peter Lakai, 8 Wallace Sititi; 9 Cortez Ratima, 10 Beauden Barrett; 11 Rieko Ioane, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 13 Billy Proctor, 14 Leroy Carter; 15 Josh Moorby.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Siale Lauaki, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Ethan Blackadder; 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Caleb Clarke.
Team news – Stormers
17:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The Stormers blend some exciting youth with plenty of experience and quality. Fly half Yaqeen Ahmed is fresh from steeering South Africa’s Under-20s to World Junior Championship glory in Georgia, and has Warrick Gelant as a playmaking partner at full-back.
There is a real strength in the back row with veteran Deon Fourie alongside Hacjivah Dayminani and Evan Roos, while six more forwards wait on the bench.
Stormers XV: 1 Vernon Matongo, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 3 Neethling Fouche; 4 Adre Smith, 5 Connor Evans; 6 Deon Fourie, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 8 Evan Roos; 9 Imad Khan, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed; 11 Leolin Zas, 12 Jonathan Roche, 13 Ruhan Nel (capt.), 14 Seabelo Senatla; 15 Warrick Gelant.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Wandile Mlaba; 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
Local support
16:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle
There is plenty of support in Cape Town for the All Blacks dating back to the era of Apartheid, when a then all-white Springboks team was shunned by some. The tourists were given quite the welcome last week, and look set to have a bit of backing in the city tonight.
🇳🇿 What a welcome for the All Blacks at DHL Stadium in Cape Town! pic.twitter.com/ZbkEquw997
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) July 31, 2026
Chances for fringe figures?
16:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Coach Dave Rennie confirmed this week that New Zealand will be using the first three games of their South African tour to give all their players game time and create competition for places in the Test side.
The All Blacks start their eight-match tour against the Stormers at the Cape Town Stadium and will play two more provincial franchise teams (the Sharks in Durban and the Bulls in Pretoria) before the first Test against the Springboks in Johannesburg on August 22. “We've sort of picked the teams to play in these games, but we've already made some little changes based a little bit on injury," Rennie said on Wednesday.
“It gives us a chance to create competition for places for that first Test side. The fact that everyone will get to play, it's a real buzz within the group.
“If you look at this first game, there are a number of guys who have returned from injury recently or didn't play a massive amount of footy in that Nations Championship series. But if you look at the side, it's pretty experienced too. You know, you’ve got guys like Beauden Barrett playing, who didn't play a part last month but has been training out of his skin and ready to go. We think it's a really good blend, it's a strong side.
“We've had a little bit more time together and that's been good, but there are some new combinations and we're going to play against a side (Stormers) that is very competitive. They’ll be excited about the potential of an international scalp and, so that makes them dangerous.”
All Blacks to rest captain Ardie Savea for part of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour to South Africa
16:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle
There’s no Ardie Savea for the All Blacks tonight, nor indeed until the Test series proper as Dave Rennie carefully manages his captain. Stand-in skipper Codie Taylor is nursing a sore calf, too, in a bit of a blow to the tourists.
All Blacks to rest Savea for part of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour to South Africa
Why are South Africa and New Zealand playing in Baltimore? The inside story of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry
16:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Want to understand a little bit more about how this series came to pass? Here’s the inside story, including all of the details of the game in Baltimore that will serve as its finale.
Why are South Africa and New Zealand playing in Baltimore? The inside story
The deeper significance behind South Africa and New Zealand’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series
16:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
There’s plenty of history at play between these two, yes, but this is an equally fascinating encounter when it comes to the future of rugby. Here’s why:
The deeper significance behind the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry launches
16:05 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Here we go then – it’s going to be a hectic, and huge, six weeks as Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry begins:
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry schedule and how to watch Springboks v All Blacks
A rising star to look out for
12:36 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Yaqeen Ahmed is exceptionally highly rated in South Africa, and took his opportunity at the recent U20 World Championship by steering the Baby Boks to glory in Georgia. He probably wouldn’t have started, mind, had Rassie Erasmus not called up and capped Vusi Moyo to the senior squad – evidence of the depth within South African rugby.
Ahmed, though, already has a pretty developed game sense, with a good kicking game. It’ll be good to see how he goes against a strong All Blacks team tonight.
Stormers vs New Zealand LIVE
Thursday 6 August 2026 16:23 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It’s the start of a new era, and a new venture as the Stormers welcome New Zealand in to kick-start the inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour. The All Blacks will play eight fixtures across the next six weeks, including four Tests against the Springboks, in a significant series on and off the field.
Kick off tonight is at 6pm BST.
