Rassie Erasmus hands Cheslin Kolbe rare role for crucial All Blacks Test
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Rassie Erasmus has handed Cheslin Kolbe a rare role for Saturday’s crucial third Test against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium.
Kolbe will move from the wing to fullback as the Springboks look to take a 2-1 lead in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry following their 33-26 victory in Cape Town.
The switch has been forced by an injury to Damian Willemse, who suffered a hamstring problem during the first half of Saturday’s win and did not return after the break.
It will be just the third time in Kolbe’s Test career that he has started at fullback for South Africa.
His first start in the No.15 jersey came against Ireland in Dublin in 2022, before he was handed another opportunity at fullback against Japan at Wembley in 2025.
Kolbe heads into Saturday’s game in outstanding form after being named Player of the Match against New Zealand in Cape Town. The 32-year-old contributed 18 points from the kicking tee, landing all seven of his attempts at goal as South Africa levelled the four-Test series.
He has now landed all 11 of his kicks at goal across the opening two Tests, scoring 29 points in the series.
Kurt-Lee Arendse returns to the starting XV after missing the Cape Town encounter and takes Kolbe’s place on the right wing, with Ethan Hooker completing the back three.
“Unfortunately, Damian Willemse took a knock in the first half and was not available for selection this weekend, and neither was Handré Pollard, and by sticking to these combinations and making one switch with Cheslin at fullback, we thought it would be the best for this match,” Erasmus said.
There are also changes up front, although they effectively restore the combination Erasmus originally selected to start the second Test.
Ox Nché, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw have been named in the starting front row, with Gerhard Steenekamp, Deon Fourie and Thomas du Toit moving back to the bench.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu retains the No.10 jersey with Pollard still unavailable, while Siya Kolisi continues as captain.
The series is finely poised after New Zealand’s 33-16 victory at Ellis Park was followed by South Africa’s response in Cape Town.
Saturday’s encounter at FNB Stadium will be the final Test on South African soil before the two great rivals travel to Baltimore for the fourth and final match of the series.
