Moodie, Hendrikse back as Springboks change up for All Blacks

JOHANNESBURG - The Springbok team to face New Zealand in the Rugby Championship in Cape Town features several significant changes to the side that beat New Zealand 31-27 in Johannesburg last weekend.

If there is one consistent aspect in Rassie Erasmus’ squad announcements this year, it has been naming unexpected line-ups and he has done it once again. 

In total, Erasmus has made seven changes, two of which are positional, for Saturday’s encounter with the All Blacks.

Willie Le Roux will start at fullback ahead of Aphelele Fassi, who had an impressive outing at Ellis Park. Canan Moodie is at wing in place of Kurt-Lee Arendse, who misses out due to concussion, while Grant Williams and Handre Pollard will start as the half-back pairing. 

Amongst the forwards, Eben Etzebeth reclaims his starting spot with Pieter-Steph Du Toit shifting to the flank where he replaces Ben-Jason Dixon.

Captain Siya Kolisi has been cleared to play this week after he was in doubt following a facial injury sustained in last weekend’s game, much to Erasmus’ delight. 

“Siya is a world-class player and captain, and he adds immense value to the team with the way he leads by example and galvanises the team when the pressure is on,” he said

On the bench, Erasmus surprisingly opted for a 5-3 split, with Jaden Hendrikse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Lukhanyo Am covering the backs while forwards subs Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenkamp, Vincent Koch, Kwagga Smith and Elrigh Louw keep their places from the previous game.

The squad features 19 Rugby World Cup winners in total, with the only 4 players in the match-23 that did not participate in last year’s tournament in France being Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ruan Nortje, Louw and Steenkamp.

Erasmus has warned that their great rivals will raise their level to greater heights after the disappointing loss they suffered last week, where they let a 10-point lead slip in the last 10 minutes of the game.

“This match is going to be massive. New Zealand are a world-class outfit and we know that they’ll be desperate to bounce back after leading in the second half last week,” said Erasmus.

A victory for the Springboks at the DHL Stadium would be a first in Cape Town against the All Blacks since 2005 and will see them take a major step toward winning the Rugby Championship for the first time since 2019.

Springbok team to face New Zealand in Cape Town:

15 – Willie le Roux 
14 – Canan Moodie 
13 – Jesse Kriel 
12 –Damian de Allende 
11 – Cheslin Kolbe 
10 – Handre Pollard 
9 – Grant Williams 
8 – Jasper Wiese 
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit 
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain)
5 – Ruan Nortje 
4 – Eben Etzebeth 
3 – Frans Malherbe 
2 – Bongi Mbonambi 
1 – Ox Nche

Replacements:

16 – Malcolm Marx 
17 – Gerhard Steenekamp 
18 – Vincent Koch 
19 – Kwagga Smith 
20 – Elrigh Louw 
21 – Jaden Hendrikse 
22 – Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu  
23 – Lukhanyo Am