South Africa’s head coach, Rassie Erasmus, has announced a single alteration to the Springboks’ match‑day squad for the third Test of the New Zealand series, which will be contested in Johannesburg on Saturday and broadcast live on Sky Sports. The adjustment is necessitated by the injury to Damien Willemse, who has been ruled out of the game. As a result, versatile back Cheslin Kolbe will be shifted from his usual wing position to fullback, while newcomer Kurt‑Lee Arendse will be drafted into the starting XV to fill the vacancy on the outside edge created by Kolbe's move. In the play‑making department, Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu retains his role as the starting fly‑half, with Manie Libbok named on the bench as his backup.
The Springboks continue to be without veteran kicker Handre Pollard, who remains sidelined with a calf injury. Captain Siya Kolisi, who has recovered from a recent hamstring problem, is slated to start once again, anchoring the back row alongside the experienced Pieter‑Steph du Toit and the powerful Jasper Wiese. This trio is expected to bring both stability and aggression to the breakdown and open‑field play. Lock Eben Etzebeth will line up for his 145th test appearance, further extending his record as the most‑capped player in South African rugby history.
He will partner with fellow second‑rower Malcolm Marx, who will slot in at hooker, while the prop positions will be filled by Ox Nche and Wilco Louw, completing a front‑row unit that blends experience with raw power. 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.” The coach’s comments underline a strategic emphasis on building cohesion rather than making wholesale alterations after each match.
The Springboks are entering the third Test with momentum after a dramatic comeback in Cape Town, where returning captain Kolisi marked his return with a try in a 33‑26 victory that leveled the four‑match series at one win apiece. That win was part of what many fans refer to as Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, a term that captures the intensity and history between the two Southern Hemisphere powerhouses. The upcoming match will be preceded by a historic first‑ever clash between the New Zealand and South Africa women’s teams, also shown on Sky Sports Action with a kickoff at 12:30 pm.
This parallel fixture highlights the growing prominence of women’s rugby on the international stage and offers fans a full day of high‑quality rugby action. Below is the projected starting lineup for South Africa: 15 Cheslin Kolbe (fullback), 14 Kurt‑Lee Arendse (wing), 13 Jesse Kriel (centre), 12 Damian de Allende (centre), 11 Ethan Hooker (wing), 10 Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu (fly‑half), 9 Cobus Reinach (scrum‑half), 8 Jasper Wiese (number 8), 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).
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. Sky Sports will broadcast every minute of New Zealand’s tour of South Africa, offering live coverage, analysis, and post‑match interviews.
Viewers in the UK and Ireland can tune in for the scheduled kick‑off times, and the network encourages fans to download the Sky Sports app for personalized notifications and on‑the‑go streaming. The decision to keep the core of the side largely unchanged reflects Erasmus’s confidence in the group’s ability to execute the game plan and adapt under pressure. By moving Kolbe to fullback, the coach not only covers the vacancy left by Willemse but also adds a dynamic attacking option from the back, given Kolbe’s speed, footwork, and counter‑attacking instincts. Arendse’s inclusion on the wing provides fresh energy on the outside, and his recent performances at provincial level have shown he can handle the physicality of Test rugby.
Overall, the Springboks head into the third Test with a blend of seasoned campaigners and emerging talent, all motivated to seize the series lead. The match promises to be a tightly contested affair, with both teams eager to assert dominance in what is arguably one of the sport’s most storied rivalries.