Springboks switch Kolbe to full-back for third All Blacks Test / Photo: © AFP
Springboks switch Kolbe to full-back for third All Blacks Test
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus has made four predictable changes to the team that started a victory over New Zealand last weekend for the third Test on Saturday.
Full-back Damian Willemse has been ruled out by a hamstring injury that forced him to retire at half-time in the 33-26 victory in Cape Town that levelled the four-match series at 1-1.
Cheslin Kolbe, who kicked 18 points in the 33-26 second Test triumph, switches from the right wing to replace Willemse and Kurt-Lee Arendse takes over the No.14 shirt.
The starting front row last weekend -- loosehead prop Gerhard Steenekamp, 39-year-old hooker Deon Fourie and tighthead prop Thomas du Toit -- will begin the third Test on the bench.
In their places come Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw, who were chosen to start in Cape Town only to be told one hour before the kick-off they would begin the Test as substitutes.
Erasmus said a change in the matchday weather from wet to dry conditions triggered the last-minute reshuffle.
"We started with the 'reserve' front row because they were lighter. Had it been wet we would have stuck with the original line-up," he told reporters.
New Zealand won the first Test because they were more clinical than South Africa inside the '22'. The Springboks reversed that pattern in Cape Town.
"We know how it felt (losing) after the first match in Johannesburg, and such a result really galvanises a team," said Erasmus.
"So, we have no doubt that they (New Zealand) will go full-out to win this Test before the series finale in the USA next week.
"They are one of the two best teams in the world and, based on experience, they never give up, as we saw last weekend. This will undoubtedly be another epic encounter."
The first Test in Johannesburg was staged at Ellis Park. This weekend it will be the turn of Soccer City near Soweto, the national football stadium which can accommodate 92,000 spectators.
South Africa (15-1)
Cheslin Kolbe; Kurt-Lee Arendse, 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)
T.Allen--TNT
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