Handre Pollard and Willie le Roux return for Springboks against New Zealand

CAPE TOWN – South Africa have made seven changes to their starting line-up for the Rugby Championship Test against New Zealand in Cape Town on Sept 7, including a return at fly-half for Handre Pollard and Willie le Roux coming in at fullback.

Coach Rassie Erasmus has been able to call on captain Siya Kolisi after the flanker was cleared to play following a facial injury in the 31-27 victory over the All Blacks in Johannesburg last weekend.

“Siya had two options, because it is a nose fracture. He could either have it set back now and be out for three weeks, or have it done in two weeks, which is what he has chosen,” Erasmus said.

“We asked Siya the question if he would be half-hearted in contact because his nose is sore, but he came through training this week without any problem.”

Le Roux, who replaces Aphelele Fassi, is joined in the back three by wings Canan Moodie and Cheslin Kolbe, with Kurt-Lee Arendse ruled out due to concussion.

Double World Cup winning wing Makazole Mapimpi was not considered for selection as his wife is due to give birth.

Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel are paired in the centres, while Pollard replaces Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who moves to the bench.

“We have a bit of a plan around the next three years, I think we have been fair to guys to give them exposure. Fassi is definitely part of that plan,” Erasmus said.

Grant Williams gets to start at scrum-half with Jaden Hendrikse taking his place on the bench in a rare five-three split between forwards and backs from Erasmus. Jasper Wiese remains at No. 8 and Pieter-Steph du Toit returns to the flank from lock.

Eben Etzebeth moves to within one of all-time Springboks cap record-holder Victor Matfield with his 126th appearance as he starts in the second row alongside Ruan Nortje. Bongi Mbonambi is at hooker between props Frans Malherbe and Ox Nche.

“This match is going to be massive. New Zealand are a world-class outfit, and we know that they’ll be desperate to bounce back after leading in the second half last week,” said Erasmus.

Over in the other camp, All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has dropped fullback Beauden Barrett and scrum-half T.J. Perenara to the bench, while Ethan Blackadder and Caleb Clarke miss out through injury.

“It was a tough conversation, but both are great team men... The All Black jersey is important to all of us. If they have to come on and finish the job, they will,” Robertson said.

Perenara is replaced at scrum-half by Cortez Ratima, who gets only his second start for the All Blacks, while Wallace Sititi, who made his debut in July, takes the place of Blackadder on the blindside of the scrum.

Off the pitch, both teams are discussing hosting eight-match tours involving the two rugby union giants every four years from 2026, a senior Springboks official said on Sept 4.

A proposal is that South Africa would play hosts in 2026 and New Zealand in 2030, and the itinerary would include four Tests and four matches against franchises.

The official, talking on condition of anonymity as he is not an authorised spokesperson, said one of the Tests could be staged at a neutral venue, possibly England or the United States.

“Reports that a deal has been struck are untrue. Talks are ongoing and... we should have clarity by the end of this month,” he said.

“A sticking point is the Rugby Championship in tour years. There is speculation that these tours may last eight weeks, so what happens to fixtures against Argentina and Australia?”

In non-Rugby World Cup years, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa play one another twice. They meet once in the years of the quadrennial global tournament.

The Rugby Championship spans eight weeks in August and September – the same period South Africa and New Zealand want to use for the tours. REUTERS, AFP