Erasmus opts for consistency in selection for third RGR Test

The changes to the match-23 will see the front row of Ox Nche, Wilco Louw (both props) and Malcolm Marx (hooker) return to the starting team, with Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit and Deon Fourie switching to the replacements bench, while an injury-enforced change to versatile back Damian Willemse sees Cheslin Kolbe switch to fullback and Kurt-Lee Arendse being drafted onto the wing in the starting team.

“It was always our plan to have a little more continuity in player combinations for this series and we thought that the players who did the job for us last week really showed composure and did well to stick to the plan and what we wanted to achieve last week,” said Erasmus.

“Unfortunately, Damian Willemse took a knock in the first half and was not available for selection this weekend, and neither was Handre Pollard, and by sticking to these combinations and making one switch with Cheslin at fullback, we thought it would be the best for this match.

“Kurt-Lee was unlucky not to play last week after Cheslin recovered from his niggle, so we are pleased to see him back. He is a quality player and his 25 tries in 33 matches so far shows the type of player he is.”

Erasmus expected the All Blacks to come out firing this weekend, saying they would have the same desperation to fight back after the Boks’ 33-26 victory, saw the teams draw the series with two matches to play.

“We know how it felt after the first match in Johannesburg, and such a result really galvanises a team, so we have no doubt that they will go full-out to win this Test match before the series finale in the USA next week,” said Erasmus.

“They are one of the two best teams in the world and based on experience, they never give up, as we saw last weekend, so this will undoubtedly be another epic encounter between the sides.

“After two games, we are both into hard Test rugby mode, and we have a good idea of what to expect from one another, so it is going to be another grind of a match.”

Of the decision to switch his front rows and reverting to the original starting front row he announced last week, Erasmus said: “We decided to change our front rows last week due to the weather conditions, and Johannesburg weather is different to Cape Town, so we thought this would be the best decision for us this weekend.

“Gerhard, Thomas, and Deon have played massive games for us, and at the same time know how to deal with pressure, and that is exactly what we need against a never-say-die team like the All Blacks, who play for the full 80-minutes.”

Zooming into the match, Erasmus said: “This game is going to be equally, if not more intense than the last two given the fact that the team that wins this match will be two games up in the series, which will make the clash in the USA the decider or game that could see the series finish in a draw, so there will be a different vibe around this match.

“We are excited that we will be playing at the FNB stadium, where on a good day there is an 80 000 strong crowd, and that will be a new and exciting experience for our players because most of these players have never ran onto the field there, and the support we enjoy there will add to the occasion.

“With the vuvuzelas and passionate crowd there, we can hardly hear one another on the field, so we are all thrilled about this occasion. But make no mistake, this is going to be another intense battle between the two top teams in the world who are both looking to get an edge in the series, so we know what we have to do, and composure and accuracy are going to be vital for both sides.”

The match kicks off at 17h10 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

**Springbok team to face the All Blacks at the FNB Stadium:**
15 Cheslin Kolbe (DHL Stormers) – 52 caps, 170 pts (22t, 12c, 12p)
14 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Mitsubishi Dynaboars) – 33 caps, 125 pts (25t)
13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 92 caps, 120 pts (24t)
12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 101 caps, 60 pts (12t)
11 Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 11 caps, 10 pts (2t)
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 22 caps, 177 pts (9t, 45c, 14p)
9 Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers) – 55 caps, 100 pts (20t)

8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 47 caps, 20 pts (4t)
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 100 caps, 70 pts (14t)
6 Siya Kolisi (captain, DHL Stormers) – 105 caps, 75 pts (15t)
5 Ruan Nortje (Kubota Spears) - 22 caps, 5 pts (1t)
4 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 144 caps, 45 pts (9t)
3 Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers) – 33 caps, 10 pts (2t)
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 91 caps, 135 pts (27t)
1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 50 caps, 0 pts 

**Replacements:**
16 Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers) – 14 caps, 10 pts (2t)
17 Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 21 caps, 10 pts (2t)
18 Thomas du Toit (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 35 caps, 10 pts (2t)
19 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 75 caps, 25 pts (5t)
20 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 33 caps, 30 pts (6t)
21 Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls) – 4 caps, 5 pts (1t)
22 Morne van den Berg (10bet Lions) – 8 caps, 25 pts (5t)
23 Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners) – 32 caps, 143 pts (2t, 47c, 13p)

**Stats and facts:**

**Springbok record against New Zealand:** Played: 112, Won: 44, Lost: 64, Drawn: 4. Points for: 1 899; Points against: 2 328; Tries scored: 185; Tries conceded: 257. Win %: 39,2%.

**Miscellaneous:**

- Eben Etzebeth will extend his record as the most capped Springbok player of all time to 145 caps when he takes the field.
- The loose trio of Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Jasper Wiese will pass the record they currently share with Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, and Duane Vermeuelen as the loose trio with the most Test starts at 17 – three more than Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, Andre Venter and Gary Teichmann, who started 14 Tests together.
- Should he take the field, Deon Fourie will stretch his record as the oldest Springbok player to play in a Test match at 39 years by a further week.
- The teams have only met twice at the FNB Stadium in history in 2010 and 2012, with the All Blacks winning both matches (29-22 and 32-16).
- Jasper Wiese requires only two more Test match appearances after this match to join the group of players who have earned 50 Test caps.
- The Springboks have won six of the last eight matches between the teams dating back to August 2023.
- The total Test caps in the Springbok starting line-up is **958**.**** There are **366** caps in the backline, with **592** caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further **222** caps.
- The average caps per player in the backline is **52**, the forwards **74**, while the players on the bench average **28.**

Source: Original report at SA Rugby.