Reviewed by Shihaam IsaacsSouth Africa sports betting writer
Published 2 September 2026
The Springboks beat New Zealand 33 to 26 in Cape Town to level the series at one Test each, and Rassie Erasmus has named Siya Kolisi to captain the side in the third Test at FNB Stadium on Saturday.
South Africa struck back at DHL Stadium on Saturday 29 August in front of a crowd of 56,589, a week after losing the opening Test 33 to 16 at Ellis Park. The two sides go to Soweto level, with the third Test kicking off at 17:10 on Saturday 5 September.
One change in the back three, and the old front row returns
Cheslin Kolbe moves from wing to fullback for the injured Damian Willemse, and Kurt-Lee Arendse comes back into the starting side on the wing. Ethan Hooker keeps the other wing. Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw start together again as the front row after beginning the Cape Town Test on the bench.
Kolisi captains the side. Erasmus said Willemse took a knock in the first half in Cape Town and was not available for selection this weekend. Handre Pollard is also out.
What a level series does to the market
It removes the assumption the first Test created. A seventeen point defeat at altitude had priced the Springboks as a side in decline, and one week later they scored 33 points against the same opponent. Books that lengthened South Africa after Ellis Park have to shorten them again, and a decider at a full FNB Stadium is the kind of fixture where the handicap moves more than the match result does.
AXN Sports has not published a starting fifteen for New Zealand, because the All Blacks team for Soweto had not been confirmed by two sources at the time of writing.
Where to bet: a Test decider is the deepest rugby card of the South African calendar, so expect the full menu rather than the short list that follows a midweek fixture. Hollywoodbets and Betway, both licensed through provincial gambling boards, price match result, handicap, total points, first try scorer and winning margin bands in rand, with deposits by Ozow instant EFT, Capitec Pay and OTT Voucher. The handicap on this fixture has already moved twice in a fortnight, so compare the line at two or three operators before you take it. Our guide to the best betting sites in South Africa covers licensing and payout times, and there is more in South Africa rugby news from AXN Sports. 18+. Gamble responsibly.
