South Africa will look to bounce back from last weekend’s 33-16 loss at Ellis Park when the Springboks host New Zealand’s All Blacks in the second Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (RGR) Test in Cape Town on Saturday.
South Africa led 13-12 at half-time, but failure to convert chances cost them dearly – as did missed tackles and injuries during the game to Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe (from which Kolbe has recovered).
After the win over the Springboks at Ellis Park, the All Blacks survived a scare in a 41-35 win over the Lions on Tuesday. That victory took their record under Dave Rennie to eight wins from eight matches, including four wins from four Tests.
The win over the Lions in Johannesburg and the earlier 38-21 victory over the Stormers in Cape Town have served as reminders that there can occasionally still be some jitters.
The Springboks need a win to keep their hopes of winning the four-Test series outright alive, so on Saturday, Rassie Erasmus will expect his charges to make a statement with their response to last Saturday’s setback.
Key details
Date: Saturday, August 29 at 5:10 p.m. CAT (3:10 p.m. GMT, 4:10 p.m. BST, 3:10 a.m. on August 30 in New Zealand mainland)
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
How to watch: The match will air on SuperSport’s channels 201 and 211 in South Africa. For fans in New Zealand, Sky Sport holds RGR rights. UK viewers will be able to watch the games on Sky Sports
Match officials
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (RFU), Angus Gardner (RA)
Television Match Official: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
Split Screen/FPRO: Brett Cronan (RA)
Team news
Having initially announced a team featuring Pieter-Steph du Toit as his captain in his 100th Test, Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that Siya Kolisi will start and captain the side.
The initial plan was for either Kolisi or Paul de Villiers to start at flanker alongside du Toit and eighthman Jasper Wiese in the back row, while doubts over Kolisi’s fitness persisted.
Ultimately, Kolisi was confirmed as a starter early enough for Erasmus to make a decisive call to hand him the captaincy rather than du Toit.
All Blacks coach Dave Rennie has shuffled some of his troops around for the second Test against the Springboks this weekend, saying he expects both teams to “be better”.
George Bower comes into the starting lineup for Ethan de Groot who, along with lock Josh Lord, is still undergoing HIA protocols. Tupou Vaa’i replaces Lord at 5.
In the backs, Leroy Carter comes into the XV at 11, with Josh Moorsby named as a replacement.
Springboks: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Morne van den Berg, 23 Manie Libbok
All Blacks: George Bower, Codie Taylor, Tyrel Lomax, Fabian Holland, Tupou Vaa’i, Simon Parker, Luke Jacobson, Ardie Savea (C), Cam Roigard, Ruben Love, Leroy Carter, Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie
Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Fletcher Newell, Patrick Tuipulotu, Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown, Josh Moorby.
Stats
Pieter-Steph du Toit will become the 11th player to reach 100 Test caps for the Springboks on Saturday.
The All Blacks won 14 turnovers in the first Test compared to the Springboks’ 5.
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