The Prague Post - Springboks 'old guard' seek revenge over All Blacks

Lock Eben Etzebeth boasts a Springbok record 143 caps and the starting line-up total is 1,012. The average caps among the forwards is 73 and 61 for the backs.

The All Blacks went one up in the four-match series last weekend in Johannesburg, winning 33-16 through clinical finishing with wing Will Jordan crossing the tryline twice.

While New Zealand took their chances, South Africa did not. Each All Black entry into the 22 produced 3.7 points. Each Springbok entry just 0.9 points.

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus has turned to the "old guard" for a sold-out Test at the 55,000-seat Cape Town Stadium.

Openside flanker Kolisi, 35, ruled out of the first Test by a hamstring injury, will make his 105th appearance in place of four-cap Paul de Villiers.

Fly-half Handre Pollard, 32, and scrum-half Cobus Reinach, 36, are the new half-back combination, boasting 141 caps between them.

They replace younger, far less experienced Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, now on the bench, and injured Grant Williams, who was partly responsible for three of the five New Zealand tries.

The other change to the starting line-up is enforced with wing Ethan Hooker promoted in place of injured wing Cheslin Kolbe, who has added goal-kicking to his outstanding repertoire.

The matchday weather forecast is cloudy with rain. Erasmus believes this could be a factor as they seek a sixth victory in eight Tests against New Zealand.

"It is probably going to be wet and Handre (Pollard) has always been the guy who does it for us," said the head coach.

"I am also excited to have Pieter-Steph (du Toit) and Siya (Kolisi) together again in the back row. They are great organisers when we defend.

- 'Hurt' -

"The hurt on the faces of the team after the first Test is something I do not want to see again. We have identified the areas that need fixing. We are ready.

"The message is simple -- convert the chances you create into points. A win keeps alive our dream of winning the series and replacing New Zealand at the top of the world rankings."

Erasmus hailed blindside flanker Du Toit, who will make his 100th appearance, and loosehead prop Ox Nche, who is set to wear the green and gold a 50th time.

"They have been pillars of strength for us on and off the field. Pieter-Steph delivers week after week and Ox has grown into a great team man,"

New Zealand have made three personnel changes, two enforced, from the team that outscored South Africa by five tries to one in Johannesburg.

Leroy Carter replaces Josh Moorby on the left wing, and two concussion victims, loosehead prop Ethan de Groot and lock Josh Lord are replaced by George Bower and Simon Parker.

New Zealand have met South Africa 11 times in Cape Town since 1928, winning seven. They achieved a rare Test feat there 18 years ago by preventing the Springboks scoring.

This Test is the second in a four-part 'Greatest Rivalry' series. It continues in Johannesburg on September 5 and ends in American city Baltimore on September 12.

Teams (15-1)

South Africa: Damian Willemse; Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Ethan Hooker; Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach; Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (capt); Ruan Nortje, Eben Etzebeth; Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche

Replacements: Deon Fourie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Lood de Jager, Andre Esterhuizen, Cameron Hanekom, Morne van den Berg, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Coach: Rassie Erasmus

New Zealand: Damian McKenzie; Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Leroy Carter; Ruben Love, Cam Roigard; Ardie Savea (capt),  Luke Jacobson,  Simon Parker; Tupou Vaa’i, Fabian Holland; Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, George Bower

Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Fletcher Newell, Patrick Tuipulotu, Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown, Josh Moorby

Coach: Dave Rennie (NZL)

Referee: Angus Gardner (AUS)

C.Zeman--TPP