Springboks

Hames gets first start for All Blacks

Hames comes in for the injured Joe Moody.... it will be his third Test.

It's an inexperienced propping duo starting with Nepo Laulala having played just six Tests.

In other changes, lock Sam Whitelock, loosies Liam Squire and Sam Cane, halfback Aaron Smith, wing Rieko Ioane and centre Ryan Crotty return to the starting lineup.

All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said: "Our big focus this week has been about continual improvement, growing ourselves as a team, growing our game and how we want to play it, and how we want to play against different opposition.

Whitelock up for Boks battle

Saturday's test against the Springboks at Albany's QBE Stadium will be Whitelock's 15th appearance against the South Africans (and 91st test in all). You get the impression he could play them all back in his head. He has been on the winning side in 12 of them.

"It's one of those awesome test matches you hope you can be part of," said the 30 year-old after Tuesday's training hitout at Alexandra Park. "If you go back through history between South Africa and New Zealand, those are the games people talk about 10 or 20 or 30 years ago. No doubt this one will be the same.

She's going to be a physical one.

All Blacks flanker Sam Cane was straight to the point, admitting South Africa would push his side to the limit in next weekend's Albany Test.

Having endured the year from hell last year, the Springboks have picked up a head of steam in 2017 and are yet to lose a Test.

A 3-0 series whitewash over France in June has made way for an encouraging Rugby Championship start, twice beating Argentina and drawing with Australia.

Pollard, Cronje and Leyds back in Springbok squad

Pollard has successfully completed his ankle injury rehabilitation and was selected in the place of Curwin Bosch, the young Cell C Sharks flyhalf who made his Springbok debut against Argentina in Port Elizabeth.

Cronje has established himself as the regular Springbok No 9 so far this season. He missed the trip to Salta but has recovered from his ankle injury and can be considered for the Test against Australia in Perth next Saturday.

Leyds, who covers wing and fullback, is back in the squad in the place of centre Francois Venter.

Springboks beat Argentina again

Comfortable winners of last weekend's reverse fixture in Port Elizabeth, the Springboks were given a helping hand on this occasion as Argentina's Tomas Lavanini was sent off in the 57th minute for a second yellow-card offence.

Pumas number eight Juan Manuel Leguizamon and South Africa full-back Andries Coetzee were also sin-binned in a frenetic encounter.

Argentina make six changes

The Pumas fell to a 37-15 loss against the Springboks in Port Elizabeth last weekend and head coach Daniel Hourcade has rung the changes as a result, with Cubelli elevated to the first XV at the expense of scrum-half Martin Landajo.

Nicolas Sanchez loses his place at fly-half to the more experienced Juan Martin Hernandez, with the other switches coming in the forward pack.

Lucas Noguera and Ramiro Herrera enter in the prop positions, while Matias Alemanno will start at lock with Juan Manuel Leguizamon taking Leonardo Senatore's number eight shirt.

Springboks impress against Pumas

Allister Coetzee's side endured a miserable 2016, but now boast four wins from four this year.

The strength, speed and superb handling that has graced great Springbok sides in the past were all present as they dominated against the Pumas, particularly in the scrum.

Elton Jantjies' accurate kicking set them apart from their visitors, while there were first international tries for lively wingers Courtnall Skosan and Raymond Rhule.

Springboks eye two test teams

South African Rugby Union chief executive Jurie Roux raised that possibility as former Super Rugby outfits the Southern Kings and Cheetahs get set to play in Europe's Pro 14 championship.

"From a rugby point of view, we now have the opportunity to adapt to conditions in the north quicker. The first game of the autumn is really a tough test match because of not being used to those conditions and the environment," Roux told The Telegraph.

England emphatic in streak snapping win

Two tries in each half, from Jonny May, Courtney Lawes, George Ford and Owen Farrell, were a fair reflection of England's dominance against a team they had not beaten since 2006.

While England can celebrate ending a run of 11 defeats and a draw in the fixture, South Africa know they have a lot of rebuilding to do after slumping to their fifth defeat in six matches and never looking remotely like doing anything else.

The only time they were in the game was in the opening 20 minutes as Pat Lambie's boot cashed in on England's indiscipline.

South Africa are using All Blacks' loss as motivation for England clash

Springboks forwards coach Matt Proudfoot praised Ireland for executing a 'sound plan' to beat the All Blacks for the first time ever, thanks to a 40-29 victory in Chicago.

The Springboks were nearly embarrassed by the Barbarians, who featured a healthy sprinkling of Kiwis in their team, and they needed two late tries to snatch a 31-all draw at Wembley last weekend.