South Africa’s head coach, Rassie Erasmus, announced a single alteration to his match‑day squad for the third Test of the series against New Zealand, which will be played in Johannesburg on Saturday and broadcast live on Sky Sports. The adjustment was forced by an injury to Damien Willemse, who has been ruled out of the game. As a result, versatile back Cheslin Kolbe will shift from his usual wing position to take on full‑back duties, while Kurt‑Lee Arendse is brought into the starting XV to fill the vacancy on the outside wing left by Kolbe. The half‑back pairing remains unchanged, with Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu once again named at fly‑half and Manie Libbok retained on the bench as the backup option.
Handre Pollard continues to be unavailable due to a lingering calf injury, leaving the Springboks to rely on other play‑makers for the match. Captain Siya Kolisi, who has recovered from a recent hamstring problem, is set to start in the back row alongside the experienced Pieter‑Steph du Toit and the powerful Jasper Wiese. Their combined experience and physicality are expected to provide a solid platform for the Springboks’ forward play. In the lock department, veteran Eben Etzebeth will line up for his 145th cap, cementing his status as the most‑capped player in South African rugby history.
He will be joined in the second row by the dynamic duo of Malcolm Marx at hooker and the front‑row pair of Ox Nche and Wilco Louw at prop. 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.” The coach’s comments underline the importance of stability and consistency in the squad as the series reaches its decisive stage. The Springboks entered this third encounter on the back of a dramatic 33‑26 win in Cape Town, where returning captain Kolisi marked his comeback with a try, leveling the four‑match series at one win each. That victory reignited the historic rivalry between the two nations, often described as Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, and set the stage for a tightly contested showdown in Johannesburg.
The match will be accompanied by the historic first meeting between the New Zealand and South Africa women’s teams, also broadcast live on Sky Sports Action with kickoff at 12:30 pm. This parallel fixture highlights the growing prominence of women’s rugby on the international stage. The starting lineup for South Africa is as follows: 1. Ox Nche – Prop 2.
Wilco Louw – Prop 3. Malcolm Marx – Hooker 4.
Eben Etzebeth – Lock (145th cap) 5. Ruan Nortje – Lock 6. Siya Kolisi (c) – Flanker 7. Pieter‑Steph du Toit – Flanker 8.
Jasper Wiese – Number 8 9. Cobus Reinach – Scrum‑half 10. Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu – Fly‑half 11. Ethan Hooker – Left wing 12.
Damian de Allende – Inside centre 13. Jesse Kriel – Outside centre 14. Kurt‑Lee Arendse – Right wing (replacing Kolbe) 15. Cheslin Kolbe – Full‑back (shifted from wing) The bench includes: 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 fixtures will be aired live on Sky Sports, with kickoff times listed for the UK and Ireland. Viewers can also stream the entire New Zealand tour of South Africa, including this pivotal Test, through the NOW platform without a contract. The strategic shift of Kolbe to full‑back adds a new dimension to the Springboks’ back‑line.
Known for his explosive footwork, off‑the‑ball creativity and defensive reliability, Kolbe’s experience at full‑back should bolster South Africa’s counter‑attacking options and provide a safe pair of hands under the high ball. Meanwhile, Arendse’s inclusion on the wing brings fresh pace and a strong defensive presence, qualities that could prove vital against the swift New Zealand back‑line.
Erasmus’s decision to maintain continuity in the forward pack reflects his confidence in the unit’s cohesion after a hard‑fought series opener. The combination of Etzebeth’s line‑out expertise, Marx’s scrummaging power, and the mobility of Kolisi, du Toit and Wiese offers a balanced mix of set‑piece stability and open‑play dynamism. If South Africa can replicate the intensity and composure displayed in Cape Town, they will have a realistic chance of taking a series lead heading into the final Test.
Conversely, New Zealand will look to adjust their tactics, exploiting any gaps created by the positional shuffle in the Springboks’ back‑line. Fans are encouraged to download the Sky Sports app for real‑time notifications and to enjoy a more accessible video player via Chrome, ensuring they don’t miss any of the action.
The upcoming match promises to be a showcase of skill, strategy, and the enduring rivalry that defines Southern Hemisphere rugby.