South Africa vs New Zealand: Springboks make one change to squad for third Test with Kurt-Lee Arendse replacing Damian Willemse
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus has made one change to his matchday 23 for the third Test of the series against New Zealand in Johannesburg on Saturday, live on Sky Sports.
The change comes due to Damien Willemse being sidelined through injury. That means Cheslin Kolbe moves from winger to fullback and Kurt-Lee Arendse comes into the squad to take the place of Kolbe on the edge.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will once again start at fly-half with Manie Libbok on the bench. Handre Pollard continues to be ruled out due to a calf problem.
Captain Siya Kolisi starts the third Test after his return from a hamstring issue and makes up the back row with Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese.
Meanwhile, Eben Etzebeth will make his 145th appearance for the Springboks at lock, extending his record as the most capped South Africa player ever.
The front row is then make up of hooker Malcolm Marx and props Ox Nche and Wilco Louw.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
"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.
Choose the sports notifications you want
Download the Sky Sports app
South Africa roared back into Rugby's Greatest Rivalry as returning captain Kolisi marked his comeback with a try in a thrilling 33-26 victory over New Zealand in Cape Town, levelling the four-Test series at 1-1.
15-Cheslin Kolbe, 14-Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13-Jesse Kriel, 12-Damian de Allende, 11-Ethan Hooker, 10-Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9-Cobus Reinach, 8-Jasper Wiese, 7-Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6-Siya Kolisi (captain), 5-Ruan Nortje, 4-Eben Etzebeth, 3-Wilco Louw, 2-Malcolm Marx, 1-Ox Nche
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-Manie Libbok
All games live on Sky Sports; kick-off times UK and Ireland
Watch every minute of New Zealand's tour of South Africa, exclusively live on Sky Sports. Stream rugby and more sport contract-free with NOW
- Last
News by day
31 of August 2026
