South Africa’s head coach, Rassie Erasmus, has introduced a single alteration to his match‑day 23 for the third test of the New Zealand series, which will be played in Johannesburg on Saturday and broadcast live on Sky Sports. The tweak is forced by an injury to Damien Willemse, who is unavailable for selection.
As a result, versatile back Cheslin Kolbe will shift from his usual wing position to full‑back, while Kurt‑Lee Arendse is brought into the squad to fill the vacancy on the wing created by Kolbe's move. In the halves, Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu is once again named the starting fly‑half, with Manie Libbok named on the bench as his backup.
Handre Pollard remains sidelined because of a lingering calf problem, so the Springboks will continue without his powerful kicking and goal‑scoring option. Captain Siya Kolisi, who has recovered from a recent hamstring strain, will start in the back row alongside the experienced lock Pieter‑Steph du Toit and the hard‑running centre‑turned‑flanker Jasper Wiese. This trio is expected to bring a blend of physicality, leadership and ball‑carrying ability to the Springboks’ forward pack.
A historic moment is also on the agenda: lock Eben Etzebeth will take to the field for his 145th cap, extending his own record as the most‑capped player in South African rugby history. His longevity and consistency at the heart of the line‑out will be a key factor against the All Blacks’ powerful forwards.
The front row will be anchored by hooker Malcolm Marx, with the prop partnership of Ox Nche and Wilco Louw providing stability and scrummaging strength. This front‑row combination has been a mainstay of the Springboks’ set‑piece throughout the series and is expected to continue delivering solid platform work.
Erasmus explained the rationale behind the change, saying, “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.” In other words, the coaching staff wanted to preserve the winning formula that helped South Africa bounce back after an early setback, while making a pragmatic adjustment to cover Willemse’s injury. The third test follows a dramatic comeback by the Springboks in Cape Town, where returning captain Kolisi marked his return with a try in a thrilling 33‑26 win that leveled the four‑match series at one‑all.
That victory reignited the long‑standing rivalry often billed as "Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry" and set the stage for a decisive showdown in Johannesburg. The men’s test will be preceded by a historic first‑ever encounter between the New Zealand and South Africa women’s sides, also streamed live on Sky Sports Action with coverage beginning at 12:30 pm.
This parallel fixture highlights the growing prominence of women’s rugby on the global stage and offers fans a full day of high‑quality international competition. Below is the projected starting XV for South Africa: - 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 (number eight) - 7 Pieter‑Steph du Toit (flanker) - 6 Siya Kolisi (captain, flanker) - 5 Ruan Nortje (lock) - 4 Eben Etzebeth (lock) - 3 Wilco Louw (prop) - 2 Malcolm Marx (hooker) - 1 Ox Nche (prop) Replacements on the bench will include: - 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 matches in the series are available live on Sky Sports, with kickoff times listed for the UK and Ireland. Viewers can also stream every minute of New Zealand’s tour of South Africa without a contract through the NOW service, which offers a convenient way to keep up with the action on a variety of devices.
For fans seeking a more accessible video experience, using the Chrome browser is recommended. The Sky Sports app is also available for download, allowing users to receive personalized sports notifications and stay up‑to‑date with scores, news and exclusive content throughout the series.
In summary, the only alteration to the Springboks’ match‑day squad is the repositioning of Kolbe to full‑back and the inclusion of Kurt‑Lee Arendse on the wing, a change dictated by Willemse’s injury. The rest of the line‑up remains largely unchanged, reflecting Erasmus’s desire for continuity after a successful comeback win.
With Kolisi back at the helm, Etzebeth chasing his own cap record, and a seasoned forward pack ready to challenge the All Blacks, the third test promises to be a tightly contested encounter that could swing the series in either direction.