Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has made three changes to his starting side to face the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship Test at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.
Damian de Allende, Francois Louw and Steven Kitshoff have been recalled to the starting side, while Willie le Roux will play in his 50th Test for South Africa.
De Allende has recovered from the shoulder injury that saw him to miss last weekend’s win over Australia in Port Elizabeth, and he replaces Andre Esterhuizen at inside centre.
Louw will start at No 8, having returned from English club commitments, and his selection sees Sikhumbuzo Notshe dropped to the bench.
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Jesse Kriel is pleased to see Damian de Allende back in the Springboks’ set-up after injury.
Kitshoff is part of the starting front row in a straight rotational swop with Tendai Mtawarira, who will provide impact off the bench. Vincent Koch is also set to play an impact role after he was named among the replacement forwards in place of Wilco Louw.
“Damian has trained very well and took full contact this week, so he is ready,” Erasmus said of his midfield change.
“Notshe played well against the Wallabies last weekend and will offer us something different when he goes on, but Flo [Louw] has a lot of experience and is good on the ground.”
Erasmus said the team had to step up again on the efforts with which they had secured victory over the All Blacks in Wellington and the Wallabies in Port Elizabeth, noting that New Zealand “will test us in every department”.
“The All Blacks usually hit hard back after a loss so we have to be mentally and physically ready for a massive contest,” Erasmus said.
“We will have to front up in defence and be clinical when we creating chances because the All Blacks punish you for errors and missed opportunities.
“The Springboks vs. All Blacks at a packed Loftus,
“I think it’s going to be a special occasion.”
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Continuity and consistency are the buzz words for South Africa after back-to-back wins over New Zealand and Australia.
Team
Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Handré Pollard, Faf de Klerk, Francois Louw, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain), Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff,
Replacements:
Bongi Mbonambi, Tendai Mtawarira, Vincent Koch, R.G. Snyman, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Embrose Papier, Elton Jantjies, Damian Willemse. (DHL Stormers), 2, 0