Rugby-Springboks make two late changes for second test against New Zealand


Rugby Union - New Zealand tour of South Africa - South Africa v New Zealand - Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa - August 22, 2026 South Africa's Pieter-Steph du Toit in action during a lineout REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

CAPE TOWN, ⁠Aug 28 (Reuters) - South Africa have made two changes ⁠to their starting XV for the second test against ‌New Zealand in Cape Town on Saturday as Handre Pollard is replaced by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Cheslin Kolbe comes in for Kurt-Lee Arendse.

Flyhalf ​Feinberg-Mngomezulu played in the 33-16 loss to ⁠the All Blacks in ⁠Johannesburg last weekend but was dropped to the bench to ⁠accommodate ‌the experienced Pollard.

The latter has been forced to pull out with a calf strain, though, and ⁠Feinberg-Mngomezulu is elevated to start, with Manie Libbok ​named among the ‌replacements.

Wing Kolbe was originally not in the team ⁠that was named ​on Monday after leaving the field with a knock in Johannesburg, but has been declared fit enough to play. Arendse ⁠drops out of the match-day 23 altogether.

The ​clash in Cape Town is the second of four tests in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series and will be followed ⁠on consecutive weekends by matches in Johannesburg and Baltimore in the United States.

Updated South Africa team:

15-Damian Willemse, 14-Cheslin Kolbe, 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.

(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Kim Coghill)

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