The Springboks and All Blacks meet at FNB Stadium on Saturday in a match that will effectively decide which side remains in contention to win their four-Test series, with the teams level at 1-1.
Kick-off is scheduled for 17:10, with the match being broadcast live on SuperSport. The Springboks have made one enforced change after Damian Willemse was ruled out through injury, with Cheslin Kolbe moving to fullback and Kurt-Lee Arendse returning on the wing.
New Zealand have made three alterations to their starting line-up. The most notable comes in the front row, where Asafo Aumua replaces Codie Taylor.
The result will have a major bearing on the series. With the two sides having won one match apiece, the team that loses at FNB Stadium will be unable to finish as series winners.
Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks will be captained by Siya Kolisi, while Ardie Savea leads the All Blacks. Georgian official Nika Amashukeli has been appointed referee, with Australia’s Angus Gardner and England’s Christophe Ridley serving as assistant referees. Eric Gauzins of France is the television match official.
Erasmus said the Springboks were relishing the prospect of playing in front of a large home crowd at the Johannesburg venue.
“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 teams
Springboks: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Substitutes: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Morne van den Berg, 23 Manie Libbok.
All Blacks: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Ardie Savea (c), 7 Luke Jacobson, 6 Peter Lakai, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Tupou Vaa’i, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 George Bower.
Bench: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Fabian Holland, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Josh Moorby.
The Springboks have faced New Zealand 112 times. South Africa have won 44 of those meetings, while the All Blacks have recorded 64 victories and four matches have ended in draws.
Across those fixtures, the Springboks have scored 1,899 points and conceded 2,328. They have crossed for 185 tries, compared with 257 conceded, giving them a win percentage of 39.2%.
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