Springboks vs All Blacks: Kolbe Gets No. 15 for Massive Soweto Test

One win each. Two Tests left. And now the Springboks and All Blacks are heading to Soweto.

Rassie Erasmus has named his Springbok side for Saturday’s third Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry at FNB Stadium, making four changes and one positional switch to the starting XV that beat New Zealand 33-26 in Cape Town.

The headline change comes at fullback. Damian Willemse misses the match through injury, which moves Cheslin Kolbe from the wing into the No. 15 jersey. Kurt-Lee Arendse returns on the right wing, while Ethan Hooker keeps his place on the left.

Up front, Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw are all restored to the starting side. With the four-Test series tied at 1-1, Saturday gives both teams the chance to take control before the final meeting in Baltimore.

Rassie Sticks With the Cape Town Core

For all the changes Erasmus has made during this series, there’s plenty of continuity in the side heading to FNB Stadium.

The Boks bounced back from their 33-16 defeat at Ellis Park by beating New Zealand 33-26 at DHL Stadium on Saturday.

South Africa scored three tries through Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende and Siya Kolisi, while Kolbe added all 18 of his points from the tee with three conversions and four penalties.

The All Blacks actually scored four tries to South Africa’s three, but the Boks did enough elsewhere to stay in front and level the series.

Erasmus has rewarded most of that starting side with another opportunity. Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu continue as the halfback combination, while Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel remain together in midfield.

Eben Etzebeth and Ruan Nortje continue in the second row, with captain Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese completing the loose trio.

There’s a little bit of history in that back row too. Kolisi, Du Toit and Wiese are set to start together for the 18th time, which will establish a new Springbok record for Test starts as a loose-forward combination.

Cheslin Kolbe Moves to Fullback

Willemse’s injury forces the most noticeable backline change. Kolbe shifts across from the wing to fullback, with Arendse coming back into the starting XV on the right. That gives South Africa a back three of Kolbe, Arendse and Hooker.

There’s no mystery around what those selections offer with ball in hand. Kolbe and Arendse are both dangerous when given space, while Hooker keeps the jersey after starting the Cape Town victory.

The interesting question is how New Zealand respond. Kolbe starting deeper changes the picture when the All Blacks kick. Poorly placed kicks could give him opportunities to attack from broken field, but New Zealand’s kicking game and chase will also put South Africa’s reshuffled back three under pressure.

For the Boks, the challenge will be making sure the change at No. 15 feels like a tactical opportunity rather than simply covering the loss of Willemse.

The Heavy Front Row Is Back

The other three changes all come in the front row. Ox Nche starts at loosehead prop, Malcolm Marx returns at hooker and Wilco Louw gets the No. 3 jersey.

Gerhard Steenekamp, Deon Fourie and Thomas du Toit move to the replacements bench. And there’s some useful context here, too.

Nche, Marx and Louw were originally named to start the second Test in Cape Town before Erasmus changed the front row shortly before kick-off. Steenekamp, Fourie and Du Toit were promoted to the starting side instead.

After the match, Erasmus explained that the switch was influenced by the drier weather conditions, with the coaching staff opting for the lighter front-row combination.

This time, Nche, Marx and Louw are back on the team sheet from the start. Whether they stay there right up until kick-off is something worth watching after last weekend’s late shuffle.

Springboks Team to Face the All Blacks

Springboks Replacements

When Is Springboks vs All Blacks Test 3?

South Africa face New Zealand at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday the 5th of September 2026. Kick-off is scheduled for 17:10 SAST, with the match broadcast live in South Africa on SuperSport.

It’s also part of a huge double-header at FNB Stadium. The Springbok Women face the Black Ferns earlier in the day at 13:30 SAST in what will be the first Test between the two sides on South African soil.

The Springboks and All Blacks then head to the United States for the fourth and final Test of the series at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on 12 September.

The Betting Read

This is one of those matches where the headline winner market might not be the most interesting place to start looking.

South Africa’s front-row selection immediately puts the scrum battle back under the microscope. Nche, Marx and Louw bring serious experience and power from the opening whistle, so it’ll be worth seeing how that changes the handicap and first-half markets available before kick-off.

The reshuffled back three deserves attention too, as Kolbe moving to fullback could give South Africa more attacking opportunities from loose kicks, especially with Arendse back alongside him. On the other hand, the All Blacks now know exactly where the change has been made and can test that combination with their own kicking game.

Totals need a little more caution. The first Test finished 33-16 and the second 33-26, but two high-scoring matches don’t guarantee a third. With the series tied and only one Test remaining after Soweto, territory and game management could become increasingly important if the scores stay close.

That’s why we’d check the final line-ups, conditions and available numbers rather than simply backing whatever worked last Saturday. If you’re still getting comfortable with rugby markets, our Test rugby betting guide explains handicaps, totals, team-news considerations and the other basics we use when breaking down a Test.

But if one thing is certain, it’s that there’s very little breathing room left in this series. New Zealand landed the first punch at Ellis Park. South Africa answered in Cape Town.

Now Soweto gets to decide who heads to Baltimore with their nose in front.

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