Erasmus makes several changes for All Blacks clash

By Ayanda Nyuswa

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has made seven changes with two positional switches for the second Rugby Championship clash against the All Blacks in Cape Town on Saturday. The big changes see Canan Moodie and Jaden Hendrikse make their first appearances since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Moodie goes straight into the starting XV to wear the number 14 jersey in the absence of the injured Kurt Lee Arendse, while Hendrikse starts on the bench. Grant Williams is set to make his first start of the season at Scrum half, and will form a half back pairing with Handre Pollard who is promoted into the starting team. Siya Kolisi completed all training sessions of the week and is cleared to start and captain the Boks after receiving a blow to the face last weekend. Double World Cup winner Willie le Roux will make his 97th appearance for the Boks as he starts at Full-back with Aphelele Fassi dropping out of the match 23, while Eben Etzebeth returns to the starting team after coming off the bench in the Boks 31-27 win in Johannesburg. 

Erasmus has gone with a traditional 5/3 split on the bench with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Jaden Hendrikse and Lukhanyo Am providing the backline cover on the bench. South Africa will be looking for their fourth win in a row against the All Blacks, which will see them clinch their second Rugby Championship title.