New Zealand play the second match of their Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour of South Africa when they take on the Sharks on Tuesday.
The Kiwis kicked off their trip with Friday's 38-21 win over Stormers in Cape Town and now head to Durban. Bulls are then their opponents on Saturday before the first of four Tests against the Springboks takes place in Johannesburg on 22nd August.
Dave Rennie is using these games to give his players minutes and has made 15 changes, with flanker Luke Jacobson named captain and hooker Bradley Slater and loose forward Semisi Ta'eiloa set for their debuts.
The likely 10-12-15 combination for the first Test is Ruben Love, Jordie Barrett and Damian McKenzie, and those three are all starters at Kings Park and could inspire a big win against Sharks, who failed to make last season's URC play-offs.
Sharks v New Zealand Tips Summary
Best Bet - New Zealand -33.5 @ 10/11
Alternative Bet - Damian McKenzie anytime tryscorer @ 11/10
Bet Builder - Caleb Clarke anytime tryscorer, Fehi Fineanganofo anytime tryscorer & Cam Roigard anytime tryscorer @ 7/2
Sharks v New Zealand Prediction
Best Bet: New Zealand -33.5 @ 10/11
Sharks are undergoing a rebuild with head coach JP Pietersen putting his faith in youth and starlets Vusi Moyo and Zekhethelo Siyaya have been named at fly-half and full-back.
Number eight Nick Hatton captains the team, while prop Nemo Roelofse and lock Hendre Stassen have returned from spells in France.
The real eye-catching selection is on the bench, with former All Blacks centre Ma'a Nonu, who represented his country 103 times and won the World Cup in both 2011 and 2015, set for his Sharks debut.
New Zealand have responded by picking a powerful pack but retaining the playmaking axis that developed in July's Autumn Nations Championship fixtures suggests they will come to play.
It was a stodgy performance against Stormers and Sharks could be on the wrong end of a much-improved display.
Alternative Bet: Damian McKenzie anytime tryscorer @ 11/10
Love's emergence looks to have ended Damian McKenzie's latest hopes of a run at the All Black number 10 jersey.
The 31-year-old started all three July Tests at full-back and is again named at 15 in Durban.
That position looks his best hope of a regular spot, with Beauden Barrett possibly ahead of him in the fly-half rankings and Rennie seemingly preferring to select Will Jordan on the wing.
McKenzie scored a try in his last international appearance, July's 40-21 win over Ireland, and he is backed to add to the score again.
Sharks v New Zealand Bet Builder Tip
Caleb Clarke anytime tryscorer
Fehi Fineanganofo anytime tryscorer
Cam Roigard anytime tryscorer
Pays 7/2
While Jordan has the 14 shirt locked down, the All Black number 11 jersey still appears up for grabs, with three players wearing it in July.
Rieko Ioane scored a try from the left wing on Friday, but Caleb Clarke gets his chance and can cross in Durban, as can fellow flyer Fehi Fineanganofo.
There are big hopes Fineanganofo can transfer his Super Rugby form for the Hurricanes to the international game and a first try in his country's jersey appeals.
Conclude this treble with a score for Cam Roigard. Undoubtedly his country's first-choice scrum-half, Roigard starts on the bench and looks to be being wrapped in cotton wool to ensure he is ready for the first Test.
The half-back scored three tries in July and a trademark dart over the line adds something extra to this Bet Builder.
Key Match Stats
Sharks only finished 10th in the 2025/26 URC
New Zealand beat France, Italy and Ireland in July's Nations Championship fixtures
The tourists began their trip to South Africa with a 38-21 win over Stormers
Kiwi full-back Damian McKenzie crossed for a try in his last appearance against Ireland
Scrum-half Cam Roigard scored three tries during the July internationals
Ma'a Nonu will make his Sharks debut, having previously played 103 Tests for the All Blacks
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
