Erasmus Makes Bold Backline Shift As Kolbe Takes 15 Shirt For Soweto Clash

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has opted for continuity in selection for the third Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry against New Zealand at FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday, making only four changes and one positional switch to his starting team for the clash.

The changes to the matchday 23 will see the front row of Ox Nche and Wilco Louw at prop, with Malcolm Marx returning at hooker. Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit and Deon Fourie move to the replacements bench.

An injury-enforced change involving versatile back Damian Willemse sees Cheslin Kolbe switch to fullback, with Kurt-Lee Arendse drafted onto the wing in the starting XV.

“It was always our plan to have a little more continuity in player combinations for this series, and we thought that the players who did the job for us last week really showed composure and did well to stick to the plan and what we wanted to achieve last week,” said Erasmus.

“Unfortunately, Damian Willemse took a knock in the first half and was not available for selection this weekend, and neither was Handre Pollard. By sticking to these combinations and making one switch with Cheslin at fullback, we thought it would be the best option for this match.

“Kurt-Lee was unlucky not to play last week after Cheslin recovered from his niggle, so we are pleased to see him back. He is a quality player, and his 25 tries in 33 matches so far show the type of player he is.”

Erasmus expects the All Blacks to come out firing this weekend, saying they will have the same desperation to fight back after the Boks’ 33–26 victory last week levelled the series with two matches still to play.

“We know how it felt after the first match in Johannesburg, and such a result really galvanises a team, so we have no doubt that they will go full-out to win this Test match before the series finale in the USA next week,” said Erasmus.

“They are one of the two best teams in the world and, based on experience, they never give up, as we saw last weekend, so this will undoubtedly be another epic encounter between the sides.

“After two games, we are both into hard Test rugby mode, and we have a good idea of what to expect from one another, so it is going to be another grind of a match.”

On the decision to switch his front row and revert to the original starting combination he announced last week, Erasmus said: “We decided to change our front row last week due to the weather conditions, and Johannesburg weather is different to Cape Town, so we thought this would be the best decision for us this weekend.

“Gerhard, Thomas and Deon have played massive games for us and, at the same time, know how to deal with pressure. That is exactly what we need against a never-say-die team like the All Blacks, who play for the full 80 minutes.”

Looking ahead to the match, Erasmus said: “This game is going to be equally, if not more, intense than the last two, given the fact that the team that wins this match will be two games up in the series. That will make the clash in the USA the decider, or a game that could see the series finish in a draw, so there will be a different vibe around this match.

“We are excited that we will be playing at FNB Stadium, where on a good day there is an 80,000-strong crowd. That will be a new and exciting experience for our players because most of these players have never run onto the field there, and the support we enjoy there will add to the occasion.

“With the vuvuzelas and passionate crowd there, we can hardly hear one another on the field, so we are all thrilled about this occasion. But make no mistake, this is going to be another intense battle between the two top teams in the world, who are both looking to get an edge in the series. We know what we have to do, and composure and accuracy are going to be vital for both sides.”

The match kicks off at 17h10 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Springbok team to face the All Blacks at FNB Stadium

15 Cheslin Kolbe (DHL Stormers) – 52 caps, 170 points (22t, 12c, 12p)
14 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Mitsubishi Dynaboars) – 33 caps, 125 points (25t)
13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 92 caps, 120 points (24t)
12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 101 caps, 60 points (12t)
11 Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 11 caps, 10 points (2t)
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 22 caps, 177 points (9t, 45c, 14p)
9 Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers) – 55 caps, 100 points (20t)
8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 47 caps, 20 points (4t)
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 100 caps, 70 points (14t)
6 Siya Kolisi (captain, DHL Stormers) – 105 caps, 75 points (15t)
5 Ruan Nortje (Kubota Spears) – 22 caps, 5 points (1t)
4 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 144 caps, 45 points (9t)
3 Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers) – 33 caps, 10 points (2t)
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 91 caps, 135 points (27t)
1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 50 caps, 0 points

Replacements

16 Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers) – 14 caps, 10 points (2t)
17 Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 21 caps, 10 points (2t)
18 Thomas du Toit (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 35 caps, 10 points (2t)
19 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 75 caps, 25 points (5t)
20 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 33 caps, 30 points (6t)
21 Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls) – 4 caps, 5 points (1t)
22 Morne van den Berg (10bet Lions) – 8 caps, 25 points (5t)
23 Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners) – 32 caps, 143 points (2t, 47c, 13p)