Springboks Revamp Squad as Kolisi and Pollard Return for Crucial Test Against All Blacks

Springboks Revamp Squad as Kolisi and Pollard Return for Crucial Test Against All Blacks

Captain Siya Kolisi is set to return to the South Africa side in a bid to level the series against New Zealand in the second Test. This comes after a disappointing 12-match winning streak ended with a heavy loss at Ellis Park, where the Springboks fell 1-0 behind in the four-match Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series. Kolisi, who was left out of the opener, is expected to replace Paul de Villiers in the lineup, pending a successful training session this week. Pieter-Steph du Toit, who captained the team in Kolisi's absence, will earn his 100th cap as part of a seasoned back row. Handre Pollard has been named to start at fly half, replacing Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who will move to the bench. Injuries have sidelined scrum half Grant Williams and wing Cheslin Kolbe, leading to Cobus Reinach and Ethan Hooker stepping into starting roles. Despite a recent injury scare, Kurt-Lee Arendse has been cleared to play in the back three. Head coach Rassie Erasmus emphasized the importance of these changes, stating, "The changes we made are in line with what we want to achieve on the field this week." Veteran Deon Fourie is included for hooking cover, aiming for his first appearance since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final. The match will take place in Cape Town on Saturday, 29 August, at 4.10pm BST, as the series continues with another encounter in Johannesburg before concluding in Baltimore on Saturday, 12 September. The anticipated South Africa XV includes: 1 Ox Nche 2 Malcolm Marx 3 Wilco Louw 4 Eben Etzebeth 5 Ruan Nortje 6 Siya Kolisi/Paul de Villiers 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt.) 8 Jasper Wiese 9 Cobus Reinach 10 Handre Pollard 11 Ethan Hooker 12 Damian de Allende 13 Jesse Kriel 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse 15 Damian Willemse.

Source: The Independent Sport - 2026-08-24