The All Blacks will meet the Sharks at Kings Park in Durban on Tuesday, in a fixture that pits a New Zealand team strengthened by several national series regulars against a Sharks squad trimmed by Springbok call-ups and injuries.
Touring side brings reinforcements; Sharks hit by absences
Dave Rennie’s All Blacks arrive in KwaZulu-Natal aiming to make it two wins from two on their "Greatest Rivalry" tour. Jacobson will skipper the touring side for the first time, with the match scheduled to kick off at 19:00 local time. The visitors have added a number of experienced performers to their matchday 23, including Damian McKenzie, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Ruben Love, Luke Jacobson, Tupou Vaa’i, Josh Lord and Ethan de Groot, according to planetrugby.com.
The Sharks, captained by Nick Hatton for the fixture, will be without a sizeable portion of their Springbok contingent after those players were on duty in Argentina last weekend. Injuries have further thinned JP Pietersen’s selection options, leaving the Durban-based outfit to select from a reduced pool.
Weather and match officials
Organisers and supporters will be watching the weather closely: planetrugby.com reported torrential rain in the 24 hours leading up to the match and forecasts of further heavy rain with thunder and lightning. How much the conditions will influence the game remains to be seen, but both teams will need to prepare for a wet Kings Park surface.
Managing the contest on the field is England’s Matthew Carley as referee. He is joined by fellow countryman Karl Dickson and Scotland’s Hollie Davidson on the touchlines, with Mike Adamson appointed as TMO.
How to watch
Supporters in South Africa can view the game on SuperSport. International broadcast arrangements reported include Sky Sport/Sky Sport Now for New Zealand, Sky Sports for the UK and Ireland, Stan Sport and Nine for Australia, and a range of providers in North and South America, Japan and parts of Europe.
| Location | Kick-off |
|---|---|
| South Africa (local) | 19:00 |
| UK & Ireland | 18:00 |
| New Zealand | 05:00 (next day) |
Selection and style implications
The All Blacks’ inclusion of players like McKenzie and Barrett adds potent attacking options and goal-kicking contingency, while forwards such as Luke Jacobson, Josh Lord and Ethan de Groot give the pack physical ballast. The visitors’ mix of backs and forwards suggests Rennie will aim for a balanced approach capable of adapting to wet weather should the forecast hold true.
For the Sharks, the absence of multiple Springboks and a shortened bench because of injury means JP Pietersen must rely on squad depth and younger incumbents to counter the visiting experience. The bookmakers, planetrugby.com reported, currently rate the encounter as likely to be one-sided — a view that will test the Sharks’ resolve and the depth of their playing resources.
- All Blacks additions: Damian McKenzie, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Ruben Love, Luke Jacobson, Tupou Vaa’i, Josh Lord, Ethan de Groot (all reported).
- Sharks situation: Missing several Springboks due to Test duties in Argentina and carrying injuries that have depleted the squad (reported).
- Officials: Referee Matthew Carley; assistants Karl Dickson and Hollie Davidson; Mike Adamson TMO (reported).
Tuesday’s fixture represents more than a tour match: it is a measuring stick for a club side managing player turnover and injuries against a touring national outfit seeking momentum. With conditions expected to be testing, the match at Kings Park will offer a stern examination of depth, adaptability and game management on both sides.
This report is based on details published by planetrugby.com.
