Handre Pollard starts at fly-half as Springboks make changes for All Blacks Test

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named Handre Pollard at fly-half for Saturday’s second Test against the All Blacks in Cape Town, with South Africa aiming to draw level in the four-match series after losing 33-16 in Johannesburg last weekend.

Pollard will form the half-back partnership with scrum-half Cobus Reinach, while Ethan Hooker comes into the starting XV on the wing after Cheslin Kolbe sustained a minor injury in the opening Test.

Pieter-Steph du Toit will captain South Africa and is in line to win his 100th Test cap if he takes the field. Prop Ox Nche is also set to reach a significant milestone, with the match scheduled to be his 50th Test appearance.

Kolisi fitness to be assessed

Erasmus has kept the rest of the starting XV largely intact, although Siya Kolisi is listed alongside Paul de Villiers at flanker while the Springboks continue to monitor the former captain’s fitness during the week.

If Kolisi completes training without any problems, he will replace De Villiers and join Du Toit and Jasper Wiese in the back row.

Hooker’s selection also prompts a positional switch in the back three, with Kurt-Lee Arendse moving from the left wing to the right. Damian Willemse will complete the back three, while Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende remain in midfield.

Should Kolisi play at Cape Town Stadium, South Africa will field the most experienced Springbok team in history. The starting XV would have a combined total of 1,012 Test caps.

The Springboks have also made changes among the replacements, with 39-year-old Deon Fourie named in a reserve front row alongside Gerhard Steenekamp and Thomas du Toit.

Lood de Jager and Cameron Hanekom are the other replacement forwards, with Andre Esterhuizen listed as a hybrid forward. Morne van den Berg and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu provide the back-up options among the backs.

Every member of the matchday squad has played in South Africa’s last two Tests, against Argentina and the All Blacks, apart from Fourie. The experienced forward last represented the Springboks in the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final.

South Africa will be seeking a response after the All Blacks won the first Test at Ellis Park by a 17-point margin. The result left the Springboks needing victory in Cape Town to prevent New Zealand from taking a decisive 2-0 lead in the series.

The Springboks’ starting XV is: Damian Willemse, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Ethan Hooker, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), Siya Kolisi or Paul de Villiers, Ruan Nortje, Eben Etzebeth, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx and Ox Nche.

The replacements are: Deon Fourie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Lood de Jager, Andre Esterhuizen, Cameron Hanekom, Morne van den Berg and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.