| South Africa |
| 22 |
| New Zealand |
| 25 |
| 12 September 1981 | ||||||
| Eden Park, Auckland | ||||||
|
|
|
||||
| Captain: Wynand Claassen | Referee: Clive Norling (Wales) | |||||
| Coach: Nelie Smith | Attendance: 49000 | |||||
| Position | Player | Province | Age | Prev Tests | Scoring |
| Loose-head Prop | Ockie Oosthuizen | N-Tvl | 26 | 3 | |
| Hooker | Robert Cockrell | WP | 31 | 9 | |
| Tight-head Prop | Flippie van der Merwe | SWD | 24 | 1 | |
| Lock | Hennie Bekker | WP | 28 | 1 | |
| Lock | Louis Moolman | N-Tvl | 30 | 14 | |
| Flank | Burger Geldenhuys | N-Tvl | 25 | 1 | |
| Flank | Rob Louw | WP | 26 | 12 | |
| Eighthman (C) | Wynand Claassen | Natal | 30 | 3 | |
| Scrumhalf | Divan Serfontein | WP | 27 | 11 | |
| Flyhalf | Naas Botha | N-Tvl | 23 | 13 | 2 conversions, 2 penalties |
| Left Wing | Gerrie Germishuys | Tvl | 31 | 18 | |
| Inside Centre | Danie Gerber | EP | 23 | 7 | |
| Outside Centre | Willie du Plessis | WP | 26 | 11 | |
| Right Wing | Ray Mordt | Tvl | 24 | 12 | 3 tries |
| Full Back | Gysie Pienaar | OFS | 26 | 12 | |
| Reserve | Johan Heunis | N-Tvl | 23 | 0 | |
| Reserve | Colin Beck | WP | 22 | 1 |
| New Zealand: 2 tries, 1 conversion, 4 penalties, 1 dropgoal |