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Cheslin Kolbe to start at full-back as Springboks make one change for third Test

Cheslin Kolbe will start at full-back for South Africa's third Test against New Zealand, with Damian Willemse ruled out through injury. The Springboks lead the four-match series 1-0 after a 33-26 win in Cape Town.

  • Cheslin Kolbe moves to full-back, with Kurt-Lee Arendse returning to the back three.
  • Damian Willemse is ruled out after taking a knock in the first half of the second Test.
  • The third Test takes place at FNB Stadium in Soweto, with the series concluding in Baltimore on 12 September.

Cheslin Kolbe will start at full-back for South Africa in the third Test against New Zealand, with Damian Willemse ruled out through injury.

Kolbe moves from the wing, and Kurt-Lee Arendse returns to the back three after being left out of the side that levelled the series in Cape Town on Saturday.

Rassie Erasmus has promoted Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw to the starting side, having switched them to the bench late ahead of the second Test. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu continues at fly half, with Manie Libbok among the replacements in the continued absence of Handre Pollard.

Erasmus said: “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.”

He added: “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.”

The world champions held off an All Blacks fightback to win 33-26 at Cape Town Stadium, and will now look to ensure they cannot lose the four-match series as it returns to Johannesburg.

The third Test will be held at FNB Stadium in Soweto before the series concludes in Baltimore on Saturday 12 September. It is hoped that Willemse and Pollard will be fit for that encounter. New Zealand are due to name their side on Thursday.

Why this matters: The Springboks can secure the four-match series with a win in Johannesburg, and the return of Arendse adds attacking depth.

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