Skip to content

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 has been forced into one change ahead of the third Test against New Zealand on Saturday; the four-match series is level at 1-1; watch every minute of New Zealand's tour of South Africa exclusively live on Sky Sports

Monday 31 August 2026 12:33, UK

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Highlights of the Greatest Rivalry second Test between South Africa and New Zealand

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.

Twitter This content is provided by Twitter, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Twitter cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Twitter cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Twitter cookies for this session only.
Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once

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

Highlights as New Zealand scored five tries to beat South Africa 33-16 at Ellis Park and take a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry

"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.

Also See:

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.

South Africa XV:

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

South Africa vs New Zealand Test series schedule

All games live on Sky Sports; kick-off times UK and Ireland

  • First Test (Ellis Park) - South Africa 16-33 New Zealand
  • Second Test (Cape Town Stadium) - South Africa 33-26 New Zealand
  • Third Test (Saturday September 5) - FNB Stadium, Johannesburg (4.10pm)
  • Fourth Test (Saturday September 12) - M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, USA (10pm)

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

Around Sky

Upgrade to get all of Sky Sports, including 1500 live football games

Not got Sky? Get instant access to Sky Sports with no contract

Sky Data Layer Viewer