From a first-ever World Cup quarterfinal for the women to a Rugby Championship showdown for the men, South Africa's teams face high-stakes clashes against the All Blacks this weekend.
Wellington, New Zealand (12 September 2025) - It's a weekend of New Zealand showdowns for South Africa's rugby stars. Springboks set for high-stakes clashes as South African rugby faces off with New Zealand.
Both the men's and women's teams are gearing up for crucial encounters against the All Blacks this weekend, with youth, talent, and national pride on full display.
South Africa's women are preparing for a historic moment in their Rugby World Cup journey, facing six-time champions New Zealand in their first-ever quarterfinal on Saturday at Exeter's Sandy Park. While the All Blacks have dominated women's rugby with six World Cup titles, the Springbok women are aiming to create an upset.
Coach Swys de Bruin encouraged his squad to embrace the occasion.
"Enjoy the biggest game of your life. They have won the World Cup six times already. We did not even enter the qualification playoffs in 2017 and lost all our matches in 2022. That is how far behind we are against them."
Now, the team will rise to the occasion with composure to challenge the dominant New Zealand side in what promises to be a landmark encounter for the nation's women.
Meanwhile, the men's Springboks are in Wellington, defending their Rugby Championship title against the All Blacks in a crunch match, also on Saturday at 09:05. After a narrow 24-17 loss at Eden Park, South Africa sits third on the table, while New Zealand leads with 10 points. Coach Rassie Erasmus has mixed youthful energy into the squad, handing 22-year-old fullback Ethan Hooker his first start.
Both teams face the pressure of history and expectation, but also the opportunity to showcase raw talent and resilience. Whether it's the women chasing a first World Cup quarterfinal triumph or the men defending their championship ambitions, South African rugby fans have a weekend of high-stakes action to look forward to.