Springboks team: Rassie Erasmus makes two changes as Damian Willemse returns for final Greatest Rivalry series Test
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has made two changes to his starting line-up for their fourth and final Test against the All Blacks in Baltimore on Saturday.
The two alterations sees Damian Willemse replacing the injured Cheslin Kolbe at full-back, while Morne van den Berg has been promoted to into the run-on side at the expense of Cobus Reinach, who drops down to the replacements bench.
After the Springboks‘ fine performances in the last two encounters to take a 2-1 lead in the four-Test Greatest Rivalry series, Erasmus has opted for continuity in selection with an eye on trying to clinch the series triumph in the USA.
A win for South Africa at the M&T Bank Stadium will pave the way for them to win the inaugural tournament against their arch-rivals, while a victory for New Zealand will result in the series ending in a draw after they won the opening match.
Kolbe, who left the field injured at the FNB Stadium in Soweto last weekend, was one of six players who remained behind in South Africa as the squad travelled to the USA, with the Springboks set to make the journey directly from the USA to Australia for their one-off Test against Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, September 27.
Delighted to have Damian Willemse back
“We feel that the team is well settled and all the players delivered in their respective roles in the last two matches, so we believe selecting the same matchday squad, and naming Damian back in his regular position, makes sense for the closing match of the series,” said Erasmus.
“These players also know exactly what to expect from a very determined All Blacks team, who will give everything to draw the series this weekend.”
Willemse missed the third Test in Soweto due to a hamstring injury and Erasmus elaborated on his inclusion along with Van den Berg’s by saying: “Damian started the first two Tests and had it not been for a niggle last week, he would have also started that match, so it’s good to have him back. He is a quality player, and he knows the guys around him very well, so it will simply be a matter of him picking up where he left off before last week.
“Morne, meanwhile, made a fantastic impact when he took the field last week, and he deserves a chance to start, so Cobus switches to the bench where he will add experience and skill in this vital match.”
Erasmus is wary of massive backlash from the All Blacks this weekend, but believes his troops are well prepared for another huge tussle.
“We have faced the All Blacks three weeks in a row, and just like us, they are a proud team who showed last week that they will never stop fighting until the final whistle, so we are under no illusions about the magnitude of the challenge ahead this weekend,” he said.
“That said, we are equally determined to finish the series strongly and give everything to lift the trophy, and the players are excited about the match.
“We have no doubt that it’s going to be another epic encounter that will require a full-blown 80-minute effort on attack and defence, so we will manage the players well this week to ensure that they are ready physically and mentally for Saturday.”
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Springboks team for the fourth Test versus the All Blacks
South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok
Date: Saturday, 12 September 2026
Venue: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA
Kick-off: 17:10 local, (22:10 UK), (23:10 France), (23:10 South Africa), 07:10 (13 September, AEST), 09:10 (13 September, New Zealand), 18:10 (Argentina), 06:10 (13 September, JST)
How to watch: Sky Sports (UK and Ireland), Sky Sport / Sky Sport Now (New Zealand), SuperSport (South Africa), Stan Sport / Nine Sport (Australia), RugbyPass TV (USA), Premier Sports (Canada), WOWOW (Japan), ESPN Sur (Central/South America and Caribbean)
Referee: Karl Dickson (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (RFU), Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (RFU)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
