De Allende to earn 100th Springbok Test cap vs All Blacks

Damian de Allende will achieve a rare milestone in South African rugby this weekend, earning his 100th Test cap when the Springboks face the All Blacks in the opening match of the inaugural "Rugby's Greatest Rivalry" series at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday, August 22, 2026. The 34-year-old inside centre will become only the 10th player in Springbok history to reach the centurion mark, a feat that adds significant personal weight to a fixture already steeped in history.

Head coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed the team for the Test, which will kick off at 5:10 p.m. local time. The squad features a blend of players who remained in South Africa to prepare for the series and those who participated in the recent 17-10 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires. Lock Eben Etzebeth and flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu are the only two players retained in the starting XV from that match. Feinberg-Mngomezulu will partner with scrumhalf Grant Williams, while the back three consists of Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Damian Willemse. The midfield pairing of De Allende and Jesse Kriel is described as the most experienced in Test rugby for South Africa.