Two Changes for RGR Series Decider

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus on Monday made only two changes to his starting team that defeated the All Blacks in Johannesburg for the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series decider in Baltimore on Saturday, with Damian Willemse replacing the injured Cheslin Kolbe at fullback, and scrumhalf Morne van den Berg being drafted into the starting team.

Given the team’s brave performances in the last two matches to take a 2-1 lead in the four-Test series, the Bok coach opted for continuity in selection with an eye on trying to clinch the series win in the USA, prompting him to make the one injury enforced change at fullback and hand Van den Berg a start, with Cobus Reinach switching to the replacements bench.

A victory for the Springboks at the M&T Bank Stadium will pave the way for them to win the inaugural competition, while a victory for the All Blacks will see the sides draw the series following their victory in the opening match.

Kolbe, who left the field injured at the FNB Stadium last weekend, was one of six players who remained behind in South Africa as the squad travelled to the USA, with the team set to make the journey directly from the USA to Australia for the one-off Test against the Wallabies at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday, 27 September.

“We feel that the team is well settled and all the players delivered in their respective roles in the last two matches, so we believe selecting the same matchday squad, and naming Damian back in his regular position, makes sense for the closing match of the series,” said Erasmus.

“These players also know exactly what to expect from a very determined All Blacks team, who will give everything to draw the series this weekend.”

Erasmus elaborated on Willemse and Van den Berg’s inclusion in the run-on team, saying: “Damian started the first two Tests and had it not been for a niggle last week, he would have also started that match, so it’s good to have him back. He is a quality player, and he knows the guys around him very well, so it will simply be a matter of him picking up where he left off before last week.

“Morne, meanwhile, made a fantastic impact when he took the field last week, and he deserves a chance to start, so Cobus switches to the bench where he will add experience and skill in this vital match.”

Erasmus expected a massive backlash from the All Blacks this weekend, but he said his charges were prepared for another big battle.

“We have faced the All Blacks three weeks in a row, and just like us, they are a proud team who showed last week that they will never stop fighting until the final whistle, so we are under no illusions about the magnitude of the challenge ahead this weekend.

“That said, we are equally determined to finish the series strongly and give everything to lift the trophy, and the players are excited about the match.

“We have no doubt that it’s going to be another epic encounter that will require a full-blown 80-minute effort on attack and defence, so we will manage the players well this week to ensure that they are ready physically and mentally for Saturday.”

The match kicks off at 23h00 SA time (17h00 EDT) and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Springbok team to face the All Blacks in Baltimore:

15 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 54 caps, 76 pts (8t, 9c, 4p, 2dg)

14 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Mitsubishi Dynaboars) – 34 caps, 130 pts (26t)

13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 93 caps, 125 pts (25t)

12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 102 caps, 60 pts (12t)

11 Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 12 caps, 10 pts (2t)

10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 23 caps, 184 pts (9t, 47c, 15p)

9 Morne van den Berg (10bet Lions) – 9 caps, 25 pts (5t)

8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 48 caps, 20 pts (4t)

7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 101 caps, 70 pts (14t)

6 Siya Kolisi (captain, DHL Stormers) – 106 caps, 75 pts (15t)

5 Ruan Nortje (Kubota Spears) – 23 caps, 5 pts (1t)

4 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 145 caps, 45 pts (9t)

3 Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers) – 34 caps, 10 pts (2t)

2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 92 caps, 140 pts (28t)

1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 51 caps, 0 pts

Replacements:

16 Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers) – 15 caps, 10 pts (2t)

17 Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 22 caps, 10 pts (2t)

18 Thomas du Toit (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 36 caps, 10 pts (2t)

19 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 76 caps, 25 pts (5t)

20 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 34 caps, 30 pts (6t)

21 Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls) – 5 caps, 5 pts (1t)

22 Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers) – 56 caps, 100 pts (20t)

23 Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners) – 33 caps, 143 pts (2t, 47c, 13p)

Stats and facts:

Springbok record against New Zealand:

Played: 113, Won: 45, Lost: 64, Drawn: 4. Points for: 1 928; Points against: 2 352; Tries scored: 188; Tries conceded: 261. Win %: 39,8%.

Miscellaneous:

• Eben Etzebeth will extend his record as the most capped Springbok player of all time to 146 caps when he takes the field.
• The loose trio of Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Jasper Wiese will extend the record they set last week to overtake Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, and Duane Vermeuelen (17) as the loose trio with the most Test starts to 19 matches.
• The Springboks have only played three Test matches in the USA in history where they defeated the USA 38-7 in 1981 and 43-10 in 2001, while they suffered a narrow 22-20 defeat against Wales in Washington DC in 2018, which was Erasmus’ first Test in charge as head coach.
• This match will mark the first Springbok Test in history to be played in Baltimore.
• Jasper Wiese requires only one more Test match appearance after this encounter to join the group of players who have earned 50 Test caps.
• The Springboks have won seven of the last nine matches against the All Blacks dating back to August 2023.
• The 2031 Rugby World Cup will be hosted in the USA.
• The total Test caps in the Springbok starting line-up is 927. There are 327 caps in the backline, with 600 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 277 caps.
• The average caps per player in the backline is 47, the forwards 75, while the players on the bench average 35.