Jesse Kriel of South Africa dives over to score a try.
Photo: Steven Flynn/Photosport
All Blacks v Springboks
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 6 September
Eden Park, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Rassie Erasmus has sprung a slight surprise with his lineup to face the All Blacks at Eden Park, with centre Jesse Kriel named captain. There was some doubt over regular skipper Siya Kolisi’s fitness, but he will start at number eight.
Elsewhere, Eben Etzebeth returns to the starting side alongside Ruan Nortje in the second row. Kolisi is one of two changes to the loose forwards, where Pieter-Steph du Toit returns at flanker.
The only change in the backline from the one that beat the Wallabies in Cape Town a fortnight ago is at fullback, where Willie le Roux will start his 101st test after being forced to withdraw from the last clash against the Wallabies due to injury.
Erasmus has made three changes to the much-vaunted Springbok bench, which features five forwards and three backs. Jan-Hendrik Wessels takes over from Marnus van der Merwe at hooker, Kwagga Smith moves back to the bench in the void left by Etzebeth, and utility back Ethan Hooker featuring in his second test in place of Andre Esterhuizen.
Handre Pollard retains his place in the hotly contested first five position, with Sacha Feinburg-Mngomezulu covering on the bench.
South Africa Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
“We selected the best possible team we could for the match, knowing that this is going to be an epic encounter against the All Blacks at Eden Park, and many of these players have done the job for us before against them,” said Erasmus.
“This is obviously going to be a completely different challenge to what we’ve faced against them in the last two years, with the match being hosted in New Zealand, and also at a venue where they hold a fantastic record.
“That said, we’ve been working hard on the detail we wanted to iron out following the matches against the Wallabies since arriving in Auckland, so it’s now up to us to implement our plans and deliver a performance that we can be proud of.”
The highly anticipated test holds vast significance as the Springboks attempt to register their fifth victory in a row against the All Blacks and break their hoodoo at Eden Park – where they last won in 1937 – while the Freedom Cup is also on the line.
Springbok team to face the All Blacks
1. Ox Nche, 2. Malcolm Marx, 3. Thomas du Toit, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 5. Ruan Nortje, 6. Marco van Staden, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8. Siya Kolisi, 9. Grant Williams, 10. Handre Pollard, 11. Canan Moodie, 12. Damian de Allende, 13. Jesse Kriel (c), 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 15. Willie le Roux
Bench: 16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17. Boan Venter, 18. Wilco Louw, 19. Lood de Jager, 20. Kwagga Smith, 21. Cobus Reinach, 22. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23. Ethan Hooker
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