Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe and flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu have been drafted into the starting lineup for the second Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Series Test against the All Blacks in Cape Town on Saturday at 17:10 SAST, while Manie Libbok will serve as the back-up flyhalf on the replacements bench.
Kolbe has recovered fully from the knock that saw him leave the field in last week’s opening Test between the sides in Johannesburg and will replace Kurt-Lee Arendse in the matchday squad.
Handre Pollard has picked up a niggle at training on Wednesday, and after being assessed on Friday morning, the decision was made to withdraw him from the team.
As a result, Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who started the Tests against Argentina and the All Blacks last week, has been called up to start the match, while Libbok will provide cover on the bench along with scrumhalf Morne van den Berg.
Revised Springbok team to face the All Blacks in Cape Town:
15 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 53 caps, 76 pts (8t, 9c, 4p, 2dg)
14 Cheslin Kolbe (DHL Stormers) – 51 caps, 142 pts (22t, 4c, 8p)
13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 91 caps, 115 pts (23t)
12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 100 caps, 55 pts (11t)
11 Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 10 caps, 10 pts (2t)
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 22 caps, 177 pts (9t, 45c, 14p)
9 Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers) – 54 caps, 100 pts (20t)
8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 46 caps, 20 pts (4t)
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 99 caps, 70 pts (14t)
6 Siya Kolisi (captain, DHL Stormers) – 104 caps, 70 pts (14t)
5 Ruan Nortje (Kubota Spears) - 21 caps, 5 pts (1t)
4 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 143 caps, 45 pts (9t)
3 Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers) – 32 caps, 10 pts (2t)
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 90 caps, 135 pts (27t)
1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 49 caps, 0 pts
Replacements:
16 Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers) – 13 caps, 10 pts (2t)
17 Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 20 caps, 10 pts (2t)
18 Thomas du Toit (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 34 caps, 10 pts (2t)
19 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 74 caps, 25 pts (5t)
20 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 32 caps, 30 pts (6t)
21 Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls) – 3 caps, 5 pts (1t)
22 Morne van den Berg (10bet Lions) – 7 caps, 25 pts (5t)
23 Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners) – 31 caps, 147 pts (2t, 49c, 13p)