17h29 CEST
24/08/2026
South Africa captain Siya Kolisi has been recalled to the Springboks' starting XV for Saturday's second Test against New Zealand, after missing their humbling defeat in the first match.
The All Blacks ran out 33-16 victors at Ellis Park on Saturday, in the first of four matches between two of international rugby's traditional heavyweights.
It was an utterly dominant performance by New Zealand, with South Africa only mustering one try to their visitors' five and finishing with a two-man deficit, after both Marco van Staden and Cobus Reinach were sent to the sin bin.
Kolisi was absent for that match after suffering a hamstring injury against Argentina earlier this month, but he will return this weekend.
Assuming he does not suffer any setbacks in the coming days, Kolisi will replace Paul de Villiers in one of four changes to the world champions' line-up, though Pieter-Steph du Toit will wear the armband as he becomes only the 11th South Africa player to bring up 100 caps.
The other alterations will see Handre Pollard and Reinach replace Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Grant Williams in the half-back spots, while Ethan Hooker comes in for Cheslin Kolbe, meaning Kurt-Lee Arendse switches from the left wing to the right.
Focus shifts to the Mother City #RugbysGreatestRivalry #Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/PZIxA9M1dc
— Springboks (@Springboks) August 24, 2026
Head coach Rassie Erasmus said: "The changes we made are in line with what we want to achieve on the field this week.
"It is valuable that almost all the players have been involved in the last two games, so they will be able to cope with the intensity and physicality of this match.
"You could see the hurt on everyone's faces after Saturday's match, and we know what we have to do to bounce back strongly this week.
"While we are fully aware of the challenging task ahead, we have regrouped and identified the areas of our game we need to fix, so we are ready and excited for the match in Cape Town."
South Africa XV: Damian Willemse, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Ethan Hooker, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach; Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit (c), Siya Kolisi, 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.