Handre Pollard will once again take the number 10 position in the starting lineup of the Springboks as they prepare for the second test match against the All Blacks in Cape Town on Saturday. In this series, dubbed the 'Greatest Rugby Rivalry,' the team is still awaiting medical clearance for captain Siya Kolisi.
Pieter-Steph du Toit will lead the Springboks in his 100th test match. Although Kolisi is listed in the day's squad alongside Paul de Villiers, coach Rassie Erasmus has included experienced halfback Handre Pollard, who previously played as a flanker and won two World Cups. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who delivered a disappointing performance in Johannesburg, has dropped to the bench.
Mani Libbok is completely excluded from the squad. For the second test match, the teams have announced their squads for Saturday, where Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ox Nche mark important career milestones.
Pollard will play alongside Cobus Reinach at halfback, as Grant Williams, who played in this position last week, was ruled out due to injury. Morne van den Berg from the Lions will be on the bench.
Rassie Erasmus noted: 'Handre demonstrated results for us under strong pressure, and we feel that the potential he and Cobus can bring at the start of the game, followed by the appearance of Morne and Sacha with their different playing styles, will be useful for us this weekend.'
After leaving the field at Ellis Park, Cheslin Kolbe could not recover and will be replaced by Ethan Hooker. Kurt-Lee Arendse will change positions from left to right wing to make room for Hooker.
Erasmus explained the changes: 'Cheslin and Grant (Williams) sustained minor injuries last week, which excluded them from the race for a spot in the squad, while we included Siya along with Paul to give us time to monitor how Siya trains this week.'
The Springboks have presented their squad for the Cape Town match: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), 6 Siya Kolisi / Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche. Reserves include: 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.
All attention will be focused on Kolisi during this week's training as the Boks assess the physical condition of their inspirational captain, who will join du Toit and Jasper Wiese in the loose forward trio.