Bulls v All Blacks. The final tour match before the Test series takes the All Blacks to the Highveld, where the Bulls host them at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday 15 August. It’s the last warm-up before New Zealand’s attention turns fully to the Springboks — and a chance for the Bulls to send the tourists into the Tests with plenty to think about.
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The Altitude Factor
Pretoria sits high above sea level, and the thin Highveld air is a genuine factor — visiting teams can find their lungs burning in the closing stages, especially early in a tour. The Bulls, built around a powerful, set-piece-driven game and thoroughly at home at altitude, will look to make every minute count and drag the All Blacks into an arm-wrestle.
What to Expect
Expect a physical, forward-oriented contest. The Bulls will target the scrum and maul and try to squeeze the tourists, while the All Blacks will look to keep the ball moving and use their pace before fatigue and altitude bite. If the Bulls can make it a grind, they’ll fancy their chances of a famous scalp in front of a raucous Loftus crowd.
Team News
Matchday squads will be named in the days before kick-off, and we’ll update this preview once the Bulls confirm their side. [PUBLISHER: pull the confirmed Bulls matchday squad from the official club source nearer the game; do not pre-empt the team sheet.]
| 🏉 MATCH FAST FACTS Fixture Bulls v All Blacks — tour match Date / venue Saturday 15 August 2026, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Kickoff (SA time) 1900 hrs The bigger picture Final tour match before the four-Test Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series |
The South African View
A Highveld Saturday against the All Blacks is as good as tour rugby gets, and Loftus will be rocking. It’s the perfect appetiser before the Boks and All Blacks go to war in the Tests — and a last look at whether the tourists have found their feet on South African soil.
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