Springboks forced into double late change ahead of second Test with All Blacks
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Double blow.
The Springboks have been forced into a double late change ahead of Saturday’s crucial second Test against the All Blacks in Cape Town.
Handre Pollard has been withdrawn from the team after picking up a niggle at training, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu promoted from the bench to start at fly-half.
Cheslin Kolbe has also been drafted into the starting XV in place of Kurt-Lee Arendse, having recovered fully from the knock he suffered during last weekend’s opening Test in Johannesburg.
Pollard picked up his injury during Wednesday’s training session and was assessed on Friday morning before the decision was made to withdraw him.
His absence represents a significant blow for Rassie Erasmus after the double World Cup winner had been recalled to the No.10 jersey for the second Test.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu will instead make another start against the All Blacks, having worn the No.10 jersey in last weekend’s 33-16 defeat at Ellis Park.
The 24-year-old has now started three consecutive Tests after also lining out at fly-half against Argentina before the beginning of the Greatest Rivalry series.
Manie Libbok has been called into the matchday 23 and will provide fly-half cover from the replacements bench alongside scrum-half Morne van den Berg.
Kolbe’s return provides some welcome news for the Springboks after he was initially left out of the team named earlier this week.
The two-time World Cup winner will start on the right wing, with Ethan Hooker remaining on the opposite flank and Damian Willemse at full-back.
The late reshuffle means South Africa will go into a hugely important second Test with a different starting fly-half and winger from the side originally selected by Erasmus.
The Springboks trail the four-Test series 1-0 following their defeat in Johannesburg and another loss in Cape Town would leave them unable to win the series.
Revised Springboks team
15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach; 1 Ox Nche, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Wilco Louw, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Ruan Nortje, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Jasper Wiese.
Replacements: Deon Fourie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Lood de Jager, Andre Esterhuizen, Cameron Hanekom, Morne van den Berg, Manie Libbok
