After a resounding first Test victory over South Africa, New Zealand’s wider squad gets another chance to impress as they take on the Lions in their final midweek tour match.
The All Blacks were uber-impressive in going 1-0 up in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series with a strong win over the Springboks in the opening clash at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Dave Rennie’s side are back at the same venue for this encounter with a Johannesburg-based franchise in the thick of preparing for the new United Rugby Championship season.
The Lions are bolstered by a handful of South Africa international and will hope to challenge the tourists’ team.
Here’s everything you need to know.
When is the Lions vs New Zealand?
The tour match is due to kick off at 6pm BST on Tuesday 25 August at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
How can I watch it?
Every game from the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour will be available for viewers in the United Kingdom via Sky Sports, Sky Go and NOW. Coverage in South Africa comes via SuperSport.
Team news
Full-back Quan Horn and prop Boan Venter have been released from the Springboks squad to feature in this tour game. Venter will make his debut off the bench after a summer switch from Edinburgh, with Sikhumbuzo Notshe another new face after returning to South Africa from France.
Lions XV: 1 SJ Kotze, 2 PJ Botha, 3 Sebastian Lombard; 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 5 Ruan Delport; 6 Siba Mahashe, 7 Batho Hlekani, 8 Francke Horn (capt.); 9 Nico Steyn, 10 Chris Smith; 11 Erich Cronje, 12 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 14 Kelly Mpeku; 15 Quan Horn.
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Boan Venter, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 JC Pretorius; 22 Haashim Pead, 23 Boeta Chamberlain.
Richie Mo’unga makes his All Blacks return after a late call-up to the touring squad as an injury replacement. Lock Jamie Hannah and prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi are even more newly-arrived, hurrying across from New Zealand to take up places on the bench with Josh Lord and Ethan de Groot working through concussion protocols.
Kyle Preston, Peter Lakai and Anton Lienert-Brown back up having featured fleetingly in the first Test.
New Zealand XV: 1 Siale Lauaki, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3 Pasilio Tosi; 4 Sam Darry, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu (capt.); 6 Wallace Sititi, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 8 Semisi Ta’eiloa; 9 Noah Hotham, 10 Richie Mo’unga; 11 Emoni Narawa, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 13 Rieko Ioane, 14 Fehi Fineanganofo; 15 Beauden Barrett.
Replacements: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Saula Ma’u, 19 Jamie Hannah, 20 Peter Lakai; 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown.
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