The Springboks and B&I Lions will face each other in the second test at the Cape Town Stadium, Saturday @ 18h00
A remarkable second-half comeback saw the B&I Lions recover from 12-3 down at half-time to defeat the reigning world champions 22-17 in the first Test at Cape Town Stadium.
Handré Pollard had kicked the hosts into a commanding position at the break before Luke Cowan-Dickie’s try and Dan Biggar’s boot turned the game on its head.
South Africa made three changes to their starting line-up from the series opener as Steven Kitshoff comes in for what will be his 50th Test cap.
Kitshoff will mark his career milestone next to Frans Malherbe and Bongi Mbonambi in a new-look front row combination while Jasper Wiese replaces Kwagga Smith at No.8.
South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber has also opted for a six-two split on the bench, which sees Trevor Nyakane and Vincent Koch provide cover at prop along with loose forward cover Marco van Staden.
Nienaber said: “This is a massive game for us; it is do or die in order to stay in the race to win the series.
“We selected a team that offers continuity in selection, but also that we thought would be the best suited to achieve the objectives we have set for this match.
“We need to be better in every area of the game this week, and the set pieces will be crucial in laying the foundations we need to execute our game plan effectively.
“We also spoke about our discipline and the aerial battle as a team, and we intend to work as hard as possible at training this week to correct the errors that cost us last week.”
B&I Lions head coach Warren Gatland has made three changes to the starting XV from the first Test, with scrum-half Conor Murray, centre Chris Harris and loosehead prop Mako Vunipola all coming in.
Ali Price, Elliot Daly and Rory Sutherland move to the bench as a result while No.8 Taulupe Faletau is also among the replacements after missing out on the 23 last week.
Gatland said: “As always, selection was incredibly tough. However, we’ve made the changes we think are the right calls for the weekend’s game.
“It’ll be another tight contest. We know the Springboks will be hurting and they’ll throw everything at us on Saturday, but I think there’s plenty more to come from us too.
“We feel we can go up another level from where we were in the first Test and I would expect us to improve. It’s the biggest game on the Tour and we have to embrace the expectation that comes with it.
“As players and coaches, these are the games you want to be involved in. We’re relishing the opportunity to face the Springboks again on Saturday and potentially seal a Series win.”
Prediction: The Springboks have been wounded, the hosts are not going to go down without a fight and could be at their most dangerous with their backs against the wall.
The set-piece contest will again take centre stage as Mako Vunipola looks to back up his effective cameo off the bench last weekend. A new-look South African front row will come hard at the Lions and look to establish their superiority early but should the tourists hold strong then it could prove decisive.
The B&I Lions must be the favourites as the sideshows from the Springbok camp must be distracting to the players and management. However, ...............? Springboks by 10.
Springboks: 15. Willie le Roux, 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Handré Pollard, 9, Faf de Klerk, 8, Jasper Wiese, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6, Siya Kolisi (C), 5. Franco Mostert, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3, Frans Malherbe, 2, Bongi Mbonambi, 1, Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16. Malcolm Marx, 17. Trevor Nyakane, 18. Vincent Koch, 19. Lood de Jager, 20. Marco van Staden, 21. Kwagga Smith, 22. Herschel Jantjies, 23. Damian Willemse.
B&I Lions: 15. Stuart Hogg, 14. Anthony Watson, 13. Chris Harris, 12. Robbie Henshaw, 11. Duhan van der Merwe, 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Conor Murray, 8. Jack Conan, 7. Tom Curry, 6. Courtney Lawes, 5. Alun Wyn Jones (C), 4. Maro Itoje, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie. Replacements: 6. Ken Owens, 17. Rory Sutherland, 18. Kyle Sinckler, 19. Tadhg Beirne, 20. Taulupe Faletau, 21. Ali Price, 22. Owen Farrell, 23. Elliot Daly.