Springboks v All Blacks: Predicted line-up as Rassie Erasmus set to tinker with world champions’ starting XV
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus and veteran lock Eben Etzebeth.
After the first three rounds of this year’s Rugby Championship, South Africa are in a favourable position as they are setting the pace atop the standings after winning all their matches in the competition.
The Springboks made a fine to the tournament when they cruised to a 33-7 win victory over the Wallabies in Brisbane before notching up a 30-12 win over the same opposition in the corresponding fixture in Perth.
However, last Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash in Johannesburg was a much closer affair but a superb fight back from South Africa helped them clinch a deserved 31-27 victory over New Zealand.
Here is our best bet at a potential Springboks line-up to face the All Blacks in Saturday’s rematch in Cape Town.
Predicted South Africa team v New Zealand
15 Willie le Roux
Although the ‘Weekend Special’ Aphelele Fassi gave a good account of himself in Saturday’s Test in Johannesburg, we expect the Boks to make some changes and one of those will be the selection of the veteran Le Roux whose experience could prove invaluable this weekend.
Unlike Fassi, who is a brilliant strike runner from the back, Le Roux is a genuine playmaker who will play an important role on attack for the world champions.
14 Cheslin Kolbe
The 30-year-old is one of the world’s best players in his position and a genuine excitement machine who can change the course of a match in an instant thanks to his outstanding attacking skillset.
Although he was kept in check by the All Blacks defence for long periods at Ellis Park, he is unpredictability with the ball in hand means he will be one of the first names on the Springbok teamsheet and we expect him to shine in his hometown this weekend.
13 Jesse Kriel
The 30-year-old had some lapses in concentration on defence against the All Blacks in Johannesburg but it should not deter Springboks head coach Erasmus from selecting him for this weekend’s showdown.
After losing the Springbok number 13 jersey to Lukhanyo Am just before the 2019 World Cup, an injury to the latter in 2023 has seen regain his spot in Erasmus’ first-choice side and he seldom disappoints which means he should retain his spot in the starting XV.
12 Damian de Allende
Joining Kriel in midfield will be De Allende who is a vital cog in the Springbok machine as he has a solid all-round game and seldom disappoints in the international arena.
An outstanding ball carrier who is also known for putting in big hits on defence and being competitive at the breakdowns, we expect the 32-year-old to be influential in all the aforementioned facets of play in Cape Town.
11 Makazole Mapimpi
Kurt-Lee Arendse’s unfortunate concussion sustained in Johannesburg opens the door for Mapimpi’s return and the veteran flyer will come back into the Bok squad in fine form after scoring four tries for the Sharks in a Currie Cup match at the weekend.
The 2019 Rugby World Cup hero might be advancing in age but is still capable of doing a job in the international arena as he proved when he was called up to the Boks’ run-on side for their second Test against the Wallabies in Perth.
10 Handre Pollard
The emergence of the outstanding Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who has been involved in all of the South Africa’s matches in 2024, has pushed the double World Cup winner to the fringes of the matchday squad in recent weeks but we believe he will be back in the number 10 jersey this weekend.
While Pollard does not possess the excellent playmaking ability of Feinberg-Mngomezulu, he has a solid skillset and has been there and done that with his superior experience just what the Boks will need in what should be another closely fought battle.
9 Cobus Reinach
Just like his fly-half, the 34-year-old brings plenty of experience to the party and we expect him to combine with Pollard as the starting half-backs for this weekend’s fixture.
While Grant Williams certainly caught the eye when he came off the replacements bench last week, Reinach also impressed during his time on the field as he was solid with his service to his outside backs and also shone on defence.
8 Jasper Wiese
After missing all six of South Africa’s previous Tests prior to the one in Johannesburg against the All Blacks due to suspension, Wiese was like a caged animal when he took to the field last week.
The 28-year-old hit the ground running at Ellis Park as he was a menace as a ball carrier while also making his presence felt on defence and in the breakdown battle. Springbok supporters will be hoping for more of the same in Cape Town.
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (c)
The 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year winner started with the number four on his back but shifted between the second-row and back-row in that game and despite that, he still delivered his usual high standard of play.
We believe he will start in his favoured position on the blindside flank where he will continue to be influential on attack, defence and in the lineouts. With Siya Kolisi expected to sit this one out due to a facial injury, we also expect Du Toit to take over the leadership duties.
6 Marco van Staden
It has been said that regular Bok skipper Kolisi might be fit for this weekend’s encounter but with the Boks sitting pretty at the top of the table, we don’t expect Erasmus to risk his leader.
That means that Van Staden will be called up and it will be a fitting reward after for the Bulls stalwart who was withdrawn from the squad to make way for Eben Etzebeth, who was initially ruled unfit to play. Van Staden’s selection means the Boks should be more competitive at the breakdowns.
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5 Ruan Nortje
South Africa have had a second-row ‘crisis’ in recent weeks as the likes of RG Snyman, Lood de Jager, Franco Mostert and Jean Kleyn all ruled out through injury while Salmaan Moerat and Eben Etzebeth also had stints on the treatment table.
However, Nortje has grabbed his opportunity with both hands as he has delivered outstanding back-to-back performances against the Wallabies and All Blacks in recent weeks. A brilliant lineout exponent and a real grafter in the tight exchanges he should retain his spot for this weekend’s clash.
4 Eben Etzebeth
The Springbok enforcer was initially ruled unfit to play in last week’s clash with the All Blacks but eventually started amongst the replacements before entering the fray early in Johannesburg.
There were no signs of his earlier injury though as he delivered a solid all-round display with his lineout work, ball carrying and defensive efforts superb throughout. Another appearance this weekend means he will need just one more game to equal Victor Matfield’s record for the most Springbok Tests played.
3 Frans Malherbe
The cornerstone of the Springboks’ scrum, the two-time Rugby World Cup winner prides himself on his prowess at the set-piece and we expect him to show his class at the set-piece in front of his home crowd in Cape Town.
Apart from his excellent scrummaging ability, the 33-year-old is also adept in the tight exchanges where he also does his bit on defence and at shifting bodies at the rucks.
2 Bongi Mbonambi
There was plenty said and written over the try he scored in the first All Blacks Test but despite the controversy over that incident, Mbonambi came to the fore with a superb performance as he was superb in the execution of his core duties in Johannesburg.
Another experienced campaigner, Mbonambi has been a mainstay of the Springbok pack for several years now and we expect him to edge out another one of the world champions’ stalwarts Malcolm Marx for the number two jersey.
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1 Ox Nche
The Sharks loosehead prop’s direct battle with Tyrel Lomax in the scrums was one of the highlights of the Test at Ellis Park and we expect another fascinating duel between them in Cape Town.
While Nche is a powerful scrummager, that is not the only string to his bow as he also does his bit as a ball carrier and on defence while he also competes relentlessly
