Springboks captain Siya Kolisi has encouraged his team to find inspiration in the historical significance of Soweto as they prepare to face New Zealand in a rugby match on Saturday. The game will take place at the FNB Stadium, a large venue with a capacity of 94,736 that hosted the opening match of the 2010 football World Cup—the only time the tournament was held in Africa. Kolisi, who is South Africa's first black rugby captain, also referenced the 1976 Soweto Uprising, a major protest by students against apartheid-era policies. He emphasized how these historical events shaped modern South Africa and highlighted the stadium's importance in the nation’s sports history. Kolisi expressed gratitude to those who fought for freedom and said giving their best in the match is a way to honor their legacy. The Soweto Uprising was a significant moment in South African history, when students protested against the government’s decision to require black schools to teach in English and Afrikaans, languages primarily spoken by the white minority. The protests resulted in numerous casualties and drew international condemnation. Apartheid, the system of racial segregation and discrimination, officially ended in 1994 after the country held its first fully democratic elections. New Zealand, known as the All Blacks in rugby, have won their previous two matches at the FNB Stadium, and a victory in this game would put them ahead in the series. The result would mirror the scoreline from the All Blacks' historic 1996 "Incomparables" series in South Africa. This match is part of a double-header with the women’s teams of both countries playing as well. The women’s teams will face each other again, repeating the Black Ferns' 46-17 win from the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final. A unique family connection is expected to be on display during the match. Both All Black flanker Wallace Sititi and his younger sister Amarante have been named on the replacements’ bench for their respective teams, both wearing the number 20 jersey. If both players are selected to play, they will become the second brother-sister pair to take the field for New Zealand on the same day, following the 1998 match where Xavier and Annaleah Rush played against Australia. Wallace and Amarante’s father, Semo Sititi, who played rugby for Borders and Newcastle and captained Samoa, has traveled to Johannesburg for the event. Amarante expressed her excitement about playing alongside her brother, calling it a special privilege she will always cherish.