Rugby Championship: Live Streams & TV Guide - News Directory 3

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

The biggest rugby tournament in the southern hemisphere gets underway in Johannesburg.

Watch South Africa v Australia as the 2025 Rugby Championship kicks off at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

This guide will tell you everything you need to know to tune into this year's first South Africa v Australia encounter online, on TV and from anywhere. Scroll down to the end of the article for a preview and team news.

South Africa v Australia: Key viewing information

Table of Contents

South Africa v Australia: Key viewing information Stream on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland Watch South Africa v Australia from anywhere How to watch Springboks v Wallabies in Australia Stream the Springboks' Rugby Championship opener in South Africa Watch the South Africa v Australia across Europe How to watch Springboks v Wallabies in the USA Stream the 2025 Rugby Championship in New Zealand Watch South Africa v Australia in Hong Kong, Singapore and across southeast Asia South Africa v Australia match preview Team line-ups and officials

- Date: Saturday 16 August 2025

- Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg

- Kick-off time: 4.10pm BST / 5.10pm SAST / 1.10am AEST (Sunday) / 11.10am ET

- TV channels/Live streams: Sky Sports/Now (UK & Ireland); Stan Sport (Australia); SuperSport (South Africa); NZR + (various countries across Europe)

- Watch from anywhere: Nordvpn Mega-Deal

Stream on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland

Sky Sports has the rights to show every match of the 2025 Rugby Championship in the UK and Ireland, including a Springboks v Wallabies live stream.

The game kicks off at 4.10pm BST this afternoon, with the build-up getting underway at 4.00pm on Sky Sports Action.

You can check out the latest Sky Sports subscription offers on the Sky website. There's no shortage of ways to tune in, including the Sky Go app for desktop, iOS, Android, PlayStation or Xbox.

If you only want to watch today's match, Now Sports offers a daily deal - where you can watch Sky Sports services - for £14.99. If you want to avoid a lengthier contract, there's also a monthly option - prices start at £28 per month.

If you're going to be overseas when this Rugby Championship opener kicks off, a VPN can help you watch your usual South Africa v Australia live stream as if you were back at home. More details below...

Watch South Africa v Australia from anywhere

If you're abroad this weekend, that doesn't mean you have to miss this eagerly anticipated Ellis Park clash. That's because a good VPN (Virtual Private Network) can help you take your usual streaming service with you, wherever you are in the world.

These handy pieces of software can help you to change your laptop, smartphone or tablet's IP address. This means you can make your device appear to be in your home country, allowing you to access your TV provider wherever you are, even when you're on the other side of the world. VPNs also improve your internet security, which is great news if you're using a Wi-Fi connection in an unfamiliar hotel or bar.

Our office mates at Tom's Guide test out loads of VPNs and reckon NordVPN is currently the best available.

How to watch Springboks v Wallabies in Australia

Rugby fans down under can watch every game of the 2025 Rugby Championship on Stan Sportincluding South Africa v Australia. You'll have to stay up late, however, because the kick-off time is 1.10am AEST in the small hours of Sunday morning.

Stan Sport costs $20 per month on top of a general Stan plan, which starts from $12 per month.

You won't have to pay to watch all of the Wallabies' Championship matches this season, however. The side's upcoming games against Argentina and New Zealand will all be available free-to-air on Nine Networkvia Nine and its 9Now streaming service.

Stream the Springboks' Rugby Championship opener in South Africa

SuperSport has the South African rights to the Rugby Championship. South Africa v Australia kicks off at 5.10pm SAST.

There are various SuperSport packages available, whether you want to watch via DStv or stream.

Watch the South Africa v Australia across Europe

New Zealand Rugby's NZR + platform is showing Rugby Championship matches in numerous European countries where no specific broadcast deal is available. The list includes Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine. The service is also available in China, India, Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka.

A SANZAAR month pass costs €14.99, while a SANZAAR season pass (which will see you through the whole championship) will cost you €34.99. Signing up is super easy - all you have to do is visit the NZR+ websiteset up an account with your email address, and select one of the subscription packages.

How to watch Springboks v Wallabies in the USA

FloRugby should be your destination for a South Africa v Australia live stream in the United States. This match kicks off at 11.10am ET / 8.10am PT this morning.

A rolling monthly FloRugby subscription costs $29.99, with an annual subscription costing $150 (which effectively works out at $12.50 per month). That gets you access to the entire FloSports network, which is great news for fans of cycling, motorsport, American football and more.

Stream the 2025 Rugby Championship in New Zealand

You can keep track of the All Blacks' Rugby Championship rivals on Sky Sport nzwhich has the rights to every game of the tournament this year.

A subscription to streaming service Sky Sport Now costs $54.99 per month or $549.99 per year (equivalent to $45.83 per month). Day passes are also available for $29.99.

Watch South Africa v Australia in Hong Kong, Singapore and across southeast Asia

Premier Sports Asia has the rights to broadcast Rugby Championship matches in South East Asia and will show matches in 30 territories: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Federated States of Micronesia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Marianas, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Nepal, Northern Marianas, North Korea, Pakistan, Palau, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Tajikistan, Taiwan (Republic of China), Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.

South Africa v Australia match preview

They're the double world champions, the number one team on the planet and the current holders of the Rugby Championship. Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus can also pick from an enviable mix of talent and experience as his team prepare to get their title defence underway at their Ellis Park stronghold.

He's selected a typically powerful XV to face the Wallabies. Ox Security, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw pack down in the front row, ahead of Lood de Lager and Eb. itproof (the most capped Springbok in history) in the engine room. Marco van Staden, PIETER-STEPH DU TOIT and He kolisi are the back row trio.

Grant Williams and Manie Libbok are the half-back partnership, with Andre Esterhuizen and Jesse Kriel in the centres. Edwill van der Merwe and Kurt-Lee Arendse are the wings, with Aphelele Fassi at full-back. Coming from the pioneer of 6-2 and 7-1 splits on the bench, Erasmus's 5-3 selection of replacements feels unconventionally conservative.

While the hosts will be favourites (they won both matches against the Wallabies last year), Australia emerged from the recent British & Irish Lions series as a side on the up. A narrow defeat in Melbourne and victory in Sydney suggested Joe Schmidt's team are moving in the right direction as they prepare for a home World Cup in 2027.

Unsurprisingly he's kept faith with most of the XV who won that final Test. The only change comes at fly-half, where the veteran James O'Connor replaces Tom Lynagh, who misses out after sustaining a concussion against the Lions. Scrum-half Nic White's international retirement has lasted a mere two weeks, as he comes to the rescue to cover a shortage of number nines.

Team line-ups and officials

South Africa:

Aphelele Fassi, Edwill van der Merwe, Jesse Kriel, Andre Esterhuizen, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Manie Libbok, Grant Williams; Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, Wilco Louw, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Marco van Staden, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (Captain)

Replacements:

Bongi Mbonambi, Boan Venter, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Canan Moodie, Damian willmse

Australia:

Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Dylan Pietsch, James O'Connor, Nic White; James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Taniela Tupou, Nick Frost, Will Skelton, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (captain)

Replacements:

Brandon Paega-Amosa, Anns Bell, Zene Nongorr, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, and Andrew Kellaway, Andrew Kelloway,

Ben O'Keeffe of New Zealand is the referee, assisted by fellow Kiwi James Doleman and Italy's Gianluca Gnecchi. Tual Trainini of France is the TMO.

We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:

Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service) Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad

We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Download the digital edition of Rugby World straight to your tablet or subscribe to the print edition to get the magazine delivered to your door.

Follow Rugby World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/X.