Wing Cheslin Kolbe and fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu have been drafted into the South Africa team for the second Test against arch rivals New Zealand in Cape Town on Saturday. Originally excluded due to a knock he received in the first Test loss last weekend, Kolbe has fully recovered, according to head coach Rassie Erasmus. The […] The post Kolbe back as Springboks change two for All Blacks Test appeared first on The Namibian .
Wing Cheslin Kolbe and fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu have been drafted into the South Africa team for the second Test against arch rivals New Zealand in Cape Town on Saturday.
Originally excluded due to a knock he received in the first Test loss last weekend, Kolbe has fully recovered, according to head coach Rassie Erasmus.
The inclusion of Kolbe means Kurt-Lee Arendse, who left the field early in the first encounter due to concussion, drops out of the matchday 23.
Erasmus added that recalled fly-half Handre Pollard picked up an unspecified “niggle” in training on Wednesday, ruling him out.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu, demoted to the bench after a poor performance last weekend, returns to the starting line-up in the key playmaker role.
Manie Libbok, omitted from the matchday 23 named on Monday for Cape Town, has been added to the bench in place of Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
The All Blacks went one up in the four-match series in Johannesburg, winning 33-16 through clinical finishing with wing Will Jordan crossing the tryline twice.
While New Zealand took their chances, South Africa did not. Each All Black entry into the 22 produced 3.7 points. Each Springbok entry just 0.9 points.
Openside flanker and captain Siya Kolisi, 35, ruled out of the first Test by a hamstring injury, will make his 105th appearance in place of four-cap Paul de Villiers.
The matchday weather forecast is cloudy with rain. Erasmus believes this could be a factor as they seek a sixth victory in eight Tests against New Zealand.
“I am excited to have Pieter-Steph (du Toit) and Siya (Kolisi) together again in the back row. They are great organisers when we defend.
“The hurt on the faces of the team after the first Test is something I do not want to see again. We have identified the areas that need fixing. We are ready.
– Simple message –
“The message is simple — convert the chances you create into points. A win keeps alive our dream of winning the series and replacing New Zealand at the top of the world rankings.”
Erasmus hailed blindside flanker Du Toit, who will make his 100th appearance, and loosehead prop Ox Nche, who is set to wear the green and gold a 50th time.
“They have been pillars of strength for us on and off the field. Pieter-Steph delivers week after week and Ox has grown into a great team man,”
New Zealand have made three personnel changes, two enforced, from the team that outscored South Africa by five tries to one in Johannesburg.
Leroy Carter replaces Josh Moorby on the left wing, and two concussion victims, loosehead prop Ethan de Groot and lock Josh Lord are replaced by George Bower and Simon Parker.
Moorby, who has scored four tries in four tour appearances, has been included among the replacements.
New Zealand have met South Africa 11 times in Cape Town since 1928, winning seven. They achieved a rare Test feat there 18 years ago by preventing the Springboks scoring.
This Test is the second in a four-part ‘Greatest Rivalry’ series. It continues at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg on September 5 and ends in American city Baltimore on September 12.
Teams (15-1)
South Africa: Damian Willemse; Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Ethan Hooker; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cobus Reinach; Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (capt); Ruan Nortje, Eben Etzebeth; Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche
Replacements: Deon Fourie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Lood de Jager, Andre Esterhuizen, Cameron Hanekom, Morne van den Berg, Manie Libbok
Coach: Rassie Erasmus (RSA)
New Zealand: Damian McKenzie; Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Leroy Carter; Ruben Love, Cam Roigard; Ardie Savea (capt), Luke Jacobson, Simon Parker; Tupou Vaa’i, Fabian Holland; Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, George Bower
Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Fletcher Newell, Patrick Tuipulotu, Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown, Josh Moorby
Coach: Dave Rennie (NZL)
Referee: Angus Gardner (AUS)
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