Pollard brought back to take on the All Blacks
Rassie Erasmus confirmed his 23-man squad on Monday for the second Test against the All Blacks. Handre Pollard gets the No 10 shirt back. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu drops to the bench.
The backdrop matters. South Africa come in off a 33-16 defeat to New Zealand. The Springboks were ahead at the break before folding after half-time. Erasmus has gone with a fly-half for the big occasion. Pollard carried the Boks through the World Cup semi-final against England and then the final against those same All Blacks.
There is still a question mark. Pollard’s more measured game has to fit with the attacking system installed this summer, built around the creative talents of Feinberg-Mngomezulu or Manie Libbok. Erasmus looks ready to slow it down and wear the opposition down.
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Kolisi or De Villiers, the call will wait until Friday
Erasmus has named Siya Kolisi and Paul de Villiers. Only one will make the 23. The other will be left in the stands. The coach has given himself a few days to decide, with a call due by Friday.
Kolisi is back from a hamstring injury. He has captained this side for eight years and led them to back-to-back world titles. His absence was felt last Saturday. De Villiers, meanwhile, has been the regular replacement since the start of the year and offers more in the tight exchanges, alongside Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese.
Du Toit closes in on his 100th cap
On Saturday, Pieter-Steph du Toit will win his 100th Test cap. Ox Nche will mark his 50th the same day. A two-time world champion and two-time world player of the year, the South Africa flanker has redefined the role.
“Pieter-Steph and Ox have been pillars for us, on and off the field, and they both deserve these milestones,” Erasmus said. “Playing 100 Tests is a remarkable achievement.”
For the rest, Erasmus has kept changes to a minimum. From the starters in the first Test, only Cheslin Kolbe and Grant Williams drop out of the squad entirely. The bench has been reshuffled after last weekend’s setback, with the coach admitting his Bomb Squad gamble did not pay off. Deon Fourie and Andre Esterhuizen keep their versatility, while Gerhard Steenekamp is set for real minutes at loosehead prop.
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