Pollard back at 10 and Kriel to the wing as Rassie names side

Rassie Erasmus has made three changes and positional shift for Saturday’s clash against the All Blacks.

Jesse Kriel moves from outside centre to wing in place of the injured Makazole Mapimpi, thus seeing a return for Lukhanyo Am to the starting lineup (at centre)

Elton Jantjies swaps to the bench as Handre Pollard returns as the starting number ten, with Erasmus explaining: “Elton is a guy with wonderful vision and he can dictate a game really well, but Handre brings that physicality, that size, that direct play we need against the All Blacks.”

Malcolm Marx acts as the only change in the pack, coming back in as the starting hooker with Bongi Mbonambi returning to the bench.

In the reserves, Lions’ Ross Cronje replaces Embrose Papier as the replacement scrum half.

“It’s going to be an uphill battle against a team who is No 1 in the world who dictate almost every facet of the game. But this team is pretty much our strongest available and fit team. I really think after this game we will know where we stand with South African rugby,” Erasmus was quoted saying in StuffNZ

 

South Africa

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Jesse Kriel 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Beast Mtawarira, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Ross Cronjé, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Cheslin Kolbe