All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has named a formidable squad to face the Springboks in two Rugby Championship matches at Ellis Park Stadium on 31 August and at DHL Stadium on 7 September.

Dangerous players like Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele’a, Sevu Reece, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Jordie Barrett, TJ Perenara, and Tyrel Lomax are all part of the All Blacks side that will travel to South Africa.

However, calf injuries will prevent locks Patrick Tuipulotu and Stephen Perofeta from joining the South Africa tour.

Both players missed the All Blacks’ two Tests against Argentina due to their injuries and will remain in New Zealand for rehabilitation.

Lock Josh Lord and utility back Harry Plummer, who joined the squad as injury cover for the two Argentina Tests, will stay with the squad for the two Tests against South Africa.

The 36-man squad traveling to South Africa is:

Forwards (20):

• Hookers: Asafo Aumua (Hurricanes / Wellington), Codie Taylor (Crusaders / Canterbury), George Bell (Crusaders / Canterbury)
• Props: Ethan De Groot (Highlanders / Southland), Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes / Tasman), Fletcher Newell (Crusaders / Canterbury), Pasilio Tosi (Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (Blues / Northland), Tamaiti Williams (Crusaders / Canterbury)
• Locks: Scott Barrett (Crusaders / Taranaki) (Captain), Sam Darry (Blues / Canterbury), Josh Lord (Chiefs / Taranaki), Tupou Vaa’i (Chiefs / Taranaki)
• Loose Forwards: Ethan Blackadder (Crusaders / Tasman), Sam Cane (Chiefs / Bay of Plenty), Samipeni Finau (Chiefs / Waikato), Luke Jacobson (Chiefs / Waikato), Dalton Papali’i (Blues / Counties Manukau), Ardie Savea (Moana Pasifika / Wellington) (Vice Captain), Wallace Sititi (Chiefs / North Harbour)

Backs (16):

• Halfbacks: Noah Hotham (Crusaders / Tasman), TJ Perenara (Hurricanes / Wellington), Cortez Ratima (Chiefs / Waikato)
• First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett (Blues / Taranaki), Damian McKenzie (Chiefs / Waikato)
• Mid-fielders: Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes / Taranaki) (Vice Captain), David Havili (Crusaders / Tasman), Rieko Ioane (Blues / Auckland), Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs / Waikato), Billy Proctor (Hurricanes / Wellington)
• Outside backs: Caleb Clarke (Blues / Auckland), Will Jordan (Crusaders / Tasman), Ruben Love (Hurricanes / Wellington), Harry Plummer (Blues/Auckland), Sevu Reece (Crusaders / Southland), Mark Tele’a (Blues / North Harbour)

The rivalry between these two sides dates back to 1921 when the All Blacks defeated the Springboks 13-5 in Dunedin.

The teams have faced each other 106 times, with the All Blacks winning 62 matches and the Springboks claiming 40 victories.

However, the Springboks has outplayed the All Blacks in the most crucial Rugby World Cup finals, winning in 1995 on home soil and again in France last year. That was the last time these two fierce rivals met.

The All Blacks-Springboks rivalry is considered one of the top five rivalries in the world, alongside El Clásico, the match between Real Madrid and Barcelona.