Handre Pollard and Siya Kolisi recalled as Springboks ring changes for second Test

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Captain Siya Kolisi is set to be recalled to the South Africa side bidding to hit back in the second Test against New Zealand, with Handre Pollard preferred to Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at fly half.

The Springboks had a 12-match winning run ended by the All Blacks in a heavy defeat at Ellis Park to fall 1-0 behind in the four-match Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.

Kolisi was left out for the opener but is primed to take the place of Paul de Villiers, provided he makes it through training this week. Fellow flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit – who captained in Kolisi’s stead in Johannesburg – will win his 100th cap as part of an experienced back row.

Pollard is called in to start at No 10 as Feinberg-Mngomezulu drops to the bench. Scrum half Grant Williams and wing Cheslin Kolbe are ruled out due to injury, with Cobus Reinach and Ethan Hooker starting.

Kurt-Lee Arendse is cleared to feature in the back three despite an early withdrawal from the 33-16 defeat at Ellis Park.

“Cheslin and Grant (Williams) suffered niggles last weekend, which ruled them out of contention for selection, while we have bracketed Siya alongside Paul to allow us time to monitor how Siya comes through training this week,” said South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus.

“The changes we made are in line with what we want to achieve on the field this week, and it is valuable that almost all of the players have been involved in the last two games, so they will be able to cope with the intensity and physicality of this match.”

South Africa’s Handre Pollard will start at fly half (PA Wire)

Veteran Deon Fourie provides hooking cover for Malcolm Marx and is in line for his first Springboks appearance since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final, with Lood de Jager and Thomas du Toit two more experienced additions to the bench.

The series will continue with another encounter in Johannesburg before concluding in Baltimore on Saturday 12 September.

South Africa XV to face New Zealand in Cape Town (Saturday 29 August, 4.10pm BST): 1 Ox Nche, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Wilco Louw; 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Ruan Nortje; 6 Siya Kolisi (capt.)/Paul de Villiers, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Jasper Wiese; 9 Cobus Reinach, 10 Handre Pollard; 11 Ethan Hooker, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Jesse Kriel, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse; 15 Damian Willemse.

Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Cameron Hanekom; 22 Morne van den Berg, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

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