South Africa’s head coach, Rassie Erasmus, has announced a single alteration to his match‑day 23 for the third Test of the four‑match series against the All Blacks, which will be played in Johannesburg on Saturday and broadcast live on Sky Sports. The adjustment is prompted by an injury to centre Damien Willemse, who has been ruled out of the fixture.
As a result, versatile back Cheslin Kolbe will shift from his usual wing position to cover the full‑back role, while Kurt‑Lee Arendse, who has been impressing on the flank, will be brought into the squad to fill Kolbe’s vacated wing spot. In the half‑back department, Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu is set to start once more at fly‑half, with Manie Libbok named on the bench as his immediate backup. The Springboks will continue without veteran kicker Handre Pollard, who remains sidelined with a calf injury that has kept him out of selection for the past two weeks.
Captain Siya Kolisi, who has recovered from a hamstring strain, will line up at number six, anchoring the back row alongside the powerful lock Pieter‑Steph du Toit and the dynamic number eight Jasper Wiese. This trio is expected to provide the physicality and ball‑carrying ability that South Africa will need to counter New Zealand’s fast‑paced attack. A notable milestone will be reached in the second row as Eben Etzebeth makes his 145th appearance for the Springboks.
The lock’s record appearance tally cements his status as the most‑capped player in South African rugby history, a testament to his durability and consistent performance at the highest level. The front row will be composed of hooker Malcolm Marx, flanked by props Ox Nche and Wilco Louw, completing a forward pack that blends experience with raw power. This unit will be tasked with establishing a solid platform in the set‑piece and providing a steady supply of ball for the backline. Erasmus explained his rationale for the change, emphasizing the importance of continuity in player combinations throughout the series.
“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,” he said. The Springboks enter this match on the back of a dramatic 33‑26 victory over the All Blacks in Cape Town, a game in which returning captain Kolisi marked his comeback with a try. That win leveled the four‑Test series at 1‑1 and reignited the historic rivalry between the two nations, often billed as Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry. The starting XV for South Africa will be: 15 Cheslin Kolbe (full‑back), 14 Kurt‑Lee Arendse (wing), 13 Jesse Kriel (outside centre), 12 Damian de Allende (inside centre), 11 Ethan Hooker (wing), 10 Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu (fly‑half), 9 Cobus Reinach (scrum‑half), 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter‑Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
The bench will feature 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, and 23 Manie Libbok. Fans can watch every minute of New Zealand’s tour of South Africa live on Sky Sports, with kick‑off times listed for the UK and Ireland. The broadcast will be available via the Sky Sports app and can be streamed contract‑free through NOW, providing a convenient way for viewers to follow the action. The match promises to be a tightly contested encounter, with both sides looking to seize the advantage in a series that has already delivered high‑octane rugby, dramatic comebacks, and moments of individual brilliance.
South Africa will aim to capitalize on the momentum generated by Kolisi’s try‑scoring return, while New Zealand will be eager to level the series once more and reassert their dominance on South African soil. The stage is set for a classic Test showdown that could well decide the direction of the remainder of the tour.