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Monday, August 31, 2026

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Rugby

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; <strong>watch every minute of New Zealand's tour of South Africa exclusively live on Sky Sports</strong>

· 357 words· updated August 31, 2026 at 08:33 AM

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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

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