Springbok team for Soweto: Kolbe moves to fullback, Arendse back at wing

Cheslin Kolbe will start at fullback in place of the injured Damian Willemse when the Springboks tackle the All Blacks in Soweto on Saturday.

Kurt-Lee Arendse takes Kolbe’s position at right wing.

The original front row of Ox Nche, Wilco Louw and Malcolm Marx are back in the starting line-up.

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Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus on Monday named his team for Saturday’s third Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Test against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium in Soweto.

Erasmus largely opted for continuity from the team that won 33-26 in Cape Town last weekend.

The result left the four-game series level at 1-1.

The most notable change is Cheslin Kolbe moving from right wing to fullback in place of Damian Willemse, who is out with a hamstring injury.

Kurt-Lee Arendse, who was initially picked to start at No 14 last week, comes into the side to start at right wing.

Other changes to the match-day 23 will see the front row of Ox Nche, Wilco Louw (both props) and Malcolm Marx (hooker) return to the starting team, with Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit and Deon Fourie switching to the bench.

Erasmus had swapped around his two front rows just an hour before kick-off in the Cape Town Test.

READ | Rassie explains why he changed whole Bok front row an hour before kick-off

“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,” said Erasmus.

“Unfortunately, Damian Willemse took a knock in the first half and was not available for selection this weekend, and neither was Handre Pollard, and by sticking to these combinations and making one switch with Cheslin at fullback, we thought it would be the best for this match.

“Kurt-Lee was unlucky not to play last week after Cheslin recovered from his niggle, so we are pleased to see him back. He is a quality player and his 25 tries in 33 matches so far shows the type of player he is.”

Erasmus said they were expecting the All Blacks to hit back strong in the third Test.

“We know how it felt after the first match in Johannesburg, and such a result really galvanises a team, so we have no doubt that they will go full-out to win this Test match before the series finale in the USA next week,” said the Bok mentor.

“They are one of the two best teams in the world and, based on experience, they never give up, as we saw last weekend, so this will undoubtedly be another epic encounter between the sides.

“After two games, we are both into hard Test-rugby mode, and we have a good idea of what to expect from one another, so it is going to be another grind of a match.”

Looking ahead to the game at the spiritual football home of South Africa, Erasmus added: “This game is going to be equally, if not more intense than the last two given the fact that the team that wins this match will be 2-1 up in the series, which will make the clash in the USA the decider or game that could see the series finish in a draw, so there will be a different vibe around this match.

“We are excited that we will be playing at the FNB stadium, where on a good day there is an 80 000-strong crowd, and that will be a new and exciting experience for our players because most of these players have never ran onto the field there, and the support we enjoy there will add to the occasion.

“With the vuvuzelas and passionate crowd there, we can hardly hear one another on the field, so we are all thrilled about this occasion. But make no mistake, this is going to be another intense battle between the two top teams in the world who are both looking to get an edge in the series, so we know what we have to do, and composure and accuracy are going to be vital for both sides.”

Saturday’s Test kicks off at 17:10.

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