Erasmus names new-look backline for second All Black test

Rugby
  • 1 Day Ago 09 September 2025
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus named a new-look backline for the second test against the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday, where Ethan Hooker will earn his first start in the green and gold jumper.

The fourth-round Castle Lager Rugby Championship encounter at Sky Stadium will decide which team claims the Freedom Cup.

Erasmus made seven personnel changes to his starting XV, with 16 players in the match-23 retained from the side that went down 24-17 against the All Blacks in Auckland last Saturday.

The Bok coach tinkered with his backline, with Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu pairing up at halfback, Damian Willemse and Canan Moodie in the midfield, Hooker and Cheslin Kolbe on the wings, and Aphelele Fassi at fullback, in a team that will be led by regular captain Siya Kolisi.

Up front, Kolisi returns to flanker along with Pieter-Steph du Toit, while No 8 Jasper Wiese will return to the field for the first time since facing Italy in the Castle Lager Incoming Series after serving his four-match suspension.

The only change in the pack was at lock, where Lood de Jager will pack down next to Ruan Nortje, while Erasmus stuck with the same front row of props Ox Nche and Thomas du Toit, and hooker Malcolm Marx.

Erasmus again opted for a split of five forwards and three backs on the replacements’ bench, where Marnus van der Merwe (hooker), Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Wilco Louw (props), RG Snyman (lock) and Kwagga Smith (loose forward) will provide further forward cover. The backs on the bench are halfbacks Grant Williams, Manie Libbok, and centre Andre Esterhuizen.

'Need top-class performance'

Erasmus said: “This is a vital match for our Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign, and we feel some fresh legs and energy are what we need to come away with the desired result.”

“Every player in this squad knows we believe in them and back them, and this will serve as a great occasion for them to show us what they are capable of against a team such as the All Blacks.

“We need a top-class performance to ensure that we are in contention to win the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.

“We know where we went wrong last week and what we must fix, and we’ll leave no stone unturned to fix those errors. There’s no doubt that we have to deliver a proper 80-minute performance to do well, and we will give everything to achieve that.”

The match kicks off at 09:05 (SA/NAM time) and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

– SuperSport.com/rugby/