NEW ZEALAND take on South Africa in the pick of Rugby World Cup opening weekend fixtures.

With Italy, Canada and Namibia the other teams in Group B, this one is expected to be a straight shootout for top spot between two sides many expect to be competing in the final.

The All Blacks are the favourites for today's match, but the Springboks have been a constant thorn in their side recently, picking up a win and a draw in Wellington in the last two years.

• New Zealand vs South Africa kicks off at 10.45am.
• That's 6.45pm in Japan, 11.45am in South Africa and 9.45pm in New Zealand.
• It is taking place at the International Stadium Yokohama.
• ITV1 are showing this match live in the UK, with SuperSport broadcasting in South Africa and TVNZ and Spark sharing the rights in New Zealand.
• To stream the game live, head to the ITV Hub.
• ITV1 and ITV Hub are free for all UK broadcasters with a TV licence. TVNZ is also free for all viewers in New Zealand.
• A TV licence can be purchased here for £154.50 in colour and £52 in black and white.
• New Zealand: B Barrett; Reece, Lienert-Brown, Crotty, Bridge; Mo'unga, Smith; Moody, Coles, Laulala, Whitelock, S Barrett, Savea, Cane, Read (c).Replacements: Taylor, Tu'ungafasi, Ta'avao, Tuipulotu, Frizell, Perenara, Williams, Smith.
• South Africa: Le Roux; Kolbe, Am, De Allende, Mapimpi; Pollard, De Klerk; Kitshoff, Marx, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi (c), Du Toit, Vermeulen.Replacements: Mbonambi, Mtawarira, Nyakane, Snyman, Louw, H Jantjies, Steyn, Kriel.

• QUITE a reception for the Springboks as they arrive in Yokohama!

• THE Rugby World Cup's Super Saturday concludes with arguably the tie of the group stage.

  It's the All Blacks vs the Springboks in Yokohama, with both teams having expectations of being back at the same venue for the final on November 2.

  While New Zealand have dominated world rugby over the past eight years, matches between them and South Africa have always been a close call.

  This was never more the case than their last meeting in July, when a last minute try from Herschel Jantjies secured a 16-16 draw in Wellington for the Springboks.

  That result was the catalyst for the South Africans to go on to win the Rugby Championship, taking it off the All Blacks for the first time since 2015.

  South Africa also showed that that draw in Wellington was no fluke by winning 34-36 at the same venue a year earlier.

  And they will be out to avenge the 2015 Rugby World Cup semi-final, when again there were just two points in it as New Zealand ran out 20-18 winners at Twickenham.

  The All Blacks would go on to win that tournament to make it three World Cups to the Springboks' two.

Source: Read Full Article