SA Rugby
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi made it to the starting lineup for this weekend's clash against the All Blacks in Cape Town.
Despite visible swelling on his cheek after last week's clash at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg, Kolisi made it through all the training sessions and has been cleared to play.
"Siya is a world-class player and captain, and he adds immense value to the team with the way he leads by example and galvanises the team when the pressure is on," says head coach Rassie Erasmus.
Erasmus also named Canan Moodie, Jaden Hendricks, and Lukhanyo AM in the match day squad.
Moodie will step into Kurt-Lee Arendse's shoes as he has been ruled out due to concussion.
After last week's stellar performance, Grant Williams will have his first start of the season at scrumhalf with Handre Pollard at flyhalf.
"This match is going to be massive," said Erasmus.
"They’ll also be fully aware that a victory could give them a huge boost on the Castle Lager Rugby Championship standings, and they’ll be playing to retain the Freedom Cup, which they’ve held since 2010. It’s going to be another epic encounter."
According to SA rugby, Erasmus is not focused on potential records, should they register a victory, which could include winning four successive Tests against the All Blacks for only the second time in the history of the game, regaining the Freedom Cup for the first time since 2009, and changing their fortunes in Cape Town where the visitors have won four of their last five matches.
The Bok coach said the team’s only focus was on delivering a quality performance as they look to continue building momentum after their encouraging start to the competition.
Springbok team:
15 – Willie le Roux
14 – Canan Moodie
13 – Jesse Kriel
12 –Damian de Allende
11 – Cheslin Kolbe
10 – Handre Pollard
9 – Grant Williams
8 – Jasper Wiese
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain)
5 – Ruan Nortje
4 – Eben Etzebeth
3 – Frans Malherbe
2 – Bongi Mbonambi
1 – Ox Nche
Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx
17 – Gerhard Steenekamp
18 – Vincent Koch
19 – Kwagga Smith
20 – Elrigh Louw
21 – Jaden Hendrikse
22 – Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
23 – Lukhanyo Am
Meanwhile, Beauden Barrett and TJ Perenara were benched as New Zealand made five changes Thursday to their starting line-up for Saturday's Rugby Championship Test against South Africa.
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson reacted to last weekend's 31-27 defeat in Johannesburg by bringing in Cortez Ratima for Perenara at scrum-half and moving Will Jordan to full-back in place of Barrett for the second match against the Springboks in Cape Town.
