Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus named a new-look backline for the second Test against the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday, 13 September where Ethan Hooker will earn his first start in the green and gold jumper.
Kick-off is at 09:05 (SA time).
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The fourth-round Rugby Championship encounter at Sky Stadium will decide which team claims the Freedom Cup.
Seven changes
Erasmus made seven personnel changes to his starting XV, with 16 players in the match-23 retained from the side that went down 24-17 against the All Blacks in Auckland last week.
He tinkered with his backline, with Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu pairing up at halfback, Damian Willemse and Canan Moodie in the midfield, Hooker and Cheslin Kolbe on the wings, and Aphelele Fassi at fullback, in a team that will be led by regular captain Siya Kolisi.
Up front, Kolisi returns to flanker along with Pieter-Steph du Toit, while No 8 Jasper Wiese will return to the field for the first time since facing Italy in the Incoming Series after serving his four-match suspension.
The only change in the pack was at lock, where Lood de Jager will pack down next to Ruan Nortje, while Erasmus stuck with the same front row of props Ox Nche and Thomas du Toit, and hooker Malcolm Marx.
Bomb squad
Erasmus again opted for a split of five forwards and three backs on the replacements’ bench, where Marnus van der Merwe (hooker), Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Wilco Louw (props), RG Snyman (lock) and Kwagga Smith (loose forward) will provide further forward cover.
The backs on the bench are halfbacks Grant Williams, Manie Libbok, and centre Andre Esterhuizen.
The Test holds vast significance as the Springboks as they can’t afford to lose for a second time in as many weekends if they wish to stand any chance of retaining their Rugby Championship title.
A look at the SCHOOLS the Springbok squad for Saturday attended:
| Position | Player | School |
| 15 | Aphelele Fassi | Dale College |
| 14 | Cheslin Kolbe | Brackenfell |
| 13 | Canan Moodie | Boland Landbou |
| 12 | Damian Willemse | Paul Roos |
| 11 | Ethan Hooker | Westville Boys’ High |
| 10 | Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu | Bishops |
| 9 | Cobus Reinach | Grey College |
| 8 | Jasper Wiese | Upington |
| 7 | Pieter-Steph du Toit | Swartland |
| 6 | Siya Kolisi | Grey High |
| 5 | Ruan Nortje | Wonderboom |
| 4 | Lood de Jager | Hoërskool Hugenote, Springs |
| 3 | Thomas du Toit | Paarl Boys High |
| 2 | Malcolm Marx | KES |
| 1 | Ox Nche | HTS Louis Botha |
| Reserves | ||
| 16 | Marnus van der Merwe | Nelspruit |
| 17 | Jan-Hendrik Wessels | Grey College |
| 18 | Wilco Louw | HTS Drostdy |
| 19 | RG Snyman | Affies |
| 20 | Kwagga Smith | HTS Middelburg |
| 21 | Grant Williams | Paarl Gimnasium |
| 22 | Manie Libbok | Outeniqua |
| 23 | Andre Esterhuizen | Klerksdorp |
In the match-day 23-man squad only Grey College boast two old boys. No other school has more than one representative.
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