Springboks to name second-Test team after All Blacks loss

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus will name the Springboks team for the second Test against New Zealand at 11:45 on Monday morning, returning to the usual announcement schedule after an unusual change last week.

The Springboks are preparing for the second match of their four-Test series against the All Blacks, which will be played in Cape Town on Saturday. New Zealand lead the series 1-0 after winning the opening Test 33-16 last Saturday.

Erasmus broke with his normal routine before the first match, announcing his side to face the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Thursday. The Springboks have now returned to their customary timetable, with the team for the Cape Town Test set to be confirmed at 11:45 on Monday.

The announcement will be closely watched after South Africa’s heavy defeat in the opening match. Erasmus will have to decide whether to retain the starting line-up that began the series or make changes as the Springboks seek to level the contest.

The 33-16 result gave New Zealand an early advantage in the four-match series and left South Africa needing a response in Cape Town. The identity of the Springboks team will therefore provide an initial indication of how Erasmus has assessed the performance at Ellis Park and what adjustments he may consider for the second Test.

The All Blacks will not announce their side until later in the week. New Zealand still have to play the Lions on Tuesday night in Johannesburg before confirming their team for the Cape Town match.

For that fixture, Dave Rennie is starting veteran Richie Mo’unga at fly-half. The scheduling of the Lions match means the All Blacks’ selection process will follow a different timetable from that of the Springboks, who will reveal their team on Monday morning.

The build-up to the second Test also follows a tactical talking point from the opening encounter, after a clever defensive approach by the All Blacks caught the Springboks cold. That detail has added further interest to the team announcement and to the changes Erasmus may choose to make.

South Africa’s selection will be the first major marker ahead of Saturday’s match, while New Zealand’s side will only be known later in the week once their fixture with the Lions has been completed. With the All Blacks already one victory ahead, the Springboks now face the immediate task of recovering from the 33-16 defeat and returning the series to level terms in Cape Town.