Follow the action as the All Blacks take on the Bulls in Pretoria.

Match preview

The All Blacks face a Bulls team on a poor run of form, but the United Rugby Championship side have filled their team with Springboks in what will be the toughest test for the touring side so far.

Codie Taylor returns from injury to captain the All Blacks for the first time, while a strong 54-0 win over the Sharks in Durban should give them plenty of confidence heading into Sunday’s match.

Cortez Ratima is promoted from the bench to start in the No 9 jersey and Beauden Barrett will start his second game under Dave Rennie at fullback after Damian McKenzie hobbled off before halftime in their last match.

Meanwhile, 31-test capped Bok Marcell Coetzee will lead the Bulls out at Pretoria’s Loftus Verfeld, with Willie le Roux providing experience in the No 15 jersey.

The Bulls were South Africa’s most successful Super Rugby side, winning three titles.

They came close to winning the URC this season but were beaten by Leinster in the final and lost their first four Currie Cup matches.

The All Blacks haven’t played the Bulls in their current form, but lost to their predecessor Northern Transvaal in their last fixture 50 years ago.

All Blacks v Northern Transvaal history

Played – 4

All Blacks won – 3

Northern Transvaal won – 1

Draws – 0

All Blacks points scored – 79

Northern Transvaal points scored – 50

All Blacks v Northern Transvaal all meetings

1976 – All Blacks 27 Northern Transvaal 29, Pretoria

1970 – All Blacks 19 Northern Transvaal 15, Pretoria

1960 – All Blacks 27 Northern Transvaal 3, Pretoria

1949 – All Blacks 6 Northern Transvaal 3, Pretoria

All Blacks v Bulls line-ups

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

Reserves: 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

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

Reserves: 16. Jaundre Schoeman, 17. Sti Sithole, 18. Khuta Mchunu, 19. Reinhardt Ludwig, 20. Mpilo Gumede, 21. Paul de Wet, 22. Katlego Letebele, 23. Hakeem Kunene

Form guide (past five matches)

All Blacks:

Bulls:

Currie Cup

Lost to Pumas 33-31

Lost to Lions 42-19

Lost to Griquas 56-26

Lost to Boland Cavaliers 24-10

URC grand final

Lost to Leinster 36-7

All Blacks v Bulls referee

Georgia’s Nika Amashukeli takes charge of the fixture in Pretoria and will also referee the second test against the Springboks in Cape Town. Amashukeli had the whistle for the All Blacks’ record 43-10 loss to South Africa in Wellington last year, and was present for New Zealand losses to France and Argentina.

All Blacks v Bulls TAB odds

All Blacks $1.02, Bulls $13.00

All Blacks 1-12 $6.50

All Blacks 13+ $1.14

Draw $51

Bulls 1-12 $15.00

Bulls +13 $31.00

All Blacks v Bulls – how to follow the action

For live commentary of the All Blacks’ tour game against Bulls, join Elliott Smith on Newstalk ZB and iHeartRadio.

The Alternative Commentary Collective will also be commentating on their iHeartRadio stream.

You can watch the game on Sky Sport 1 and it will be livestreaming on Sky Sport Now.

You can also find live updates at nzherald.co.nz.

Listen to Elliott Smith’s live commentary on Newstalk ZB Sport and iHeartRadio, or join the Alternative Commentary Collective on iHeartRadio and Radio Hauraki.