South Africa is preparing to face the All-Blacks in New Zealand on Saturday (9:05 a.m.) for the second day of the rugby championship (tournament of nations in the southern hemisphere). After the ride against Australia last Saturday (43-12), with a revamped team, many executives will return.
The second line and former Toulon Eben Etzebeth will sign his return and wear the captain’s armband. Faf De Clerk returns to the fray and the now former Toulonnais (also passed through Toulouse) Cheslin Kolbe will be aligned on the wing. In total, coach Jacques Nienaber operates ten changes from the team that crushed the Wallabies. The first line remains unchanged (Steven Kitshoff, Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe), behind the center Lukhanyo Am and the back Willie Le Roux are renewed.
The absentees against Australia were already in New Zealand last week to acclimatize. The objective was to take the temperature in New Zealand and get used to the jet lag, especially since there will be no return phase due to the World Cup. only three games will be played by each team (only one against each opponent).
“We had planned to select a team with these key players fully acclimated and settled in New Zealand, mixing them with those who started last week and we are happy with the balance we have been able to find,” Nienaber explained. in a statement from South African Rugby.
The South African reservoir is huge and 17 of the 23 players on the match sheet were crowned world champions in 2019. Later in the morning (11:45 a.m.), Australia will receive Argentina, who also suffered the law of the All-Blacks last Saturday at home (41-12).
