LIVE SCORING: Bulls v All Blacks at Loftus

With one week to go before the first Test between the Springboks and All Blacks, the Bulls will be hoping to represent South Africa proudly by producing a competitive performance against the tourists on Saturday as Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series starts to heat up.

On the eve of the clash, the Bulls have been boosted by the availability of Springboks Elrigh Louw and Johan Grobbelaar, who have been drafted onto the bench after being released from the national camp.

The All Blacks come into this match off the back of a hard-fought win over the Stormers, followed by a one-sided thrashing of the Sharks.

Kick off at Loftus on Saturday is at 19:00.

KEEP TRACK OF THE LIVE SCORING BETWEEN THE BULLS AND ALL BLACKS

TEAMS

Bulls

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Thaakir Abrahams, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vortster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Hanro Liebenberg, 6 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Juann Else, 1 Alu Tshakweni

Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Khuta Mchunu, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Katlego Letebele, 23 Hakeem Kunene

New Zealand

15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Leroy Carter, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Josh Jacomb, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor (captain), 1 Xavier Numia

Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 George Bower, 18 Siale Lauaki, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Emoni Narawa

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Matthew Carley (England)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)

Match facts:

• The All Blacks have played at Loftus Versfeld (and the former Eastern Sports Ground) 16 times since 1928, playing six Tests against the Springboks and four games against the forerunner to the Bulls, Northern Transvaal, in 1949, 1960, 1970 and 1976. The All Blacks won the first three games and lost the 1976 match 29-27.

• Other opponents the All Blacks have played at Loftus Versfeld include the Junior Springboks, South African Universities, Northern Universities, South African Combined Services, Pretoria and Pretoria Clubs. The All Blacks also played Scotland there at the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

• The match venue is 1350 metres above sea level, and the rarefied air allows kicks to travel much further than at sea level. Twenty years ago Dan Carter kicked what is possibly the longest ever penalty kick by an All Black, nailing a 62 metre-penalty goal in the All Blacks’ 45-26 victory.