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Rassie Erasmus has reshuffled the South African team for the third Test against New Zealand, with Damian Willemse ruled out by injury. Cheslin Kolbe shifts to fullback and Kurt-Lee Arendse enters the wing, while the starting front row from the previous match drops to the bench in favor of a heavier, drier-weather line-up.
SOUTH AFRICA HEAD coach Rassie Erasmus has made four predictable changes to the team that started a victory over New Zealand last weekend for the third Test on Saturday.
Fullback Damian Willemse has been ruled out by a hamstring injury that forced him to retire at half-time in the 33-26 victory in Cape Town that levelled the four-match series at 1-1. Cheslin Kolbe, who kicked 18 points in the 33-26 second Test triumph, switches from the right wing to replace Willemse and Kurt-Lee Arendse takes over the No.14 shirt.
The starting front row last weekend — loosehead prop Gerhard Steenekamp, 39-year-old hooker Deon Fourie and tighthead prop Thomas du Toit — will begin the third Test on the bench. The #Springboks have named their match-23 for Saturday's third Test in #RugbysGreatestRivalry - more here: https://t.co/sJ2laG8ea8 🇿🇦#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/xPHoGxHOFw — Springboks August 31, 2026 Advertisement In their places come Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw, who were chosen to start in Cape Town only to be told one hour before the kick-off they would begin the Test as substitutes.
Erasmus said a change in the matchday weather from wet to dry conditions triggered the last-minute reshuffle.
“We started with the ‘reserve’ front row because they were lighter. Had it been wet we would have stuck with the original line-up,” he told reporters. New Zealand won the first Test because they were more clinical than South Africa inside the ’22′. The Springboks reversed that pattern in Cape Town.
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo “We know how it felt after the first match in Johannesburg, and such a result really galvanises a team,” said Erasmus.
“So, we have no doubt that they will go full-out to win this Test before the series finale in the USA next week. “They are one of the two best teams in the world and, based on experience, they never give up, as we saw last weekend. This will undoubtedly be another epic encounter. ” The first Test in Johannesburg was staged at Ellis Park.
This weekend it will be the turn of Soccer City near Soweto, the national football stadium which can accommodate 92,000 spectators. South Africa: Replacements: – © AFP 2026
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