South Africa seek catastrophe avoidance as early call backfires in Rugby's Greatest Rivalry part 2

Rassie Erasmus probably thought the early call was a ballsy move as he tried to recalibrate after South Africa’s defeat in the opening Test of a series we are required to call Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (their caps, not ours).

New Zealand's 33-16 win in Johannesburg last weekend was an abrupt wake up call for the world champions. Boks coach Erasmus' response was to go public on Monday with his team for the second Test, even though he wasn’t sure at the point if his long-time captain, Siya Kolisi, would be available for the game in Cape Town on Saturday.

As it turns out, Kolisi has been passed fit to play but Handre Pollard has had to withdraw. Pollard wasn’t involved in the first match but was named starting 10 for the second Test. He then picked up a calf injury at training on Wednesday, and after being assessed on Friday morning, the decision was made to leave him out.

A reprieve for Feinberg-Mngomezulu

It means a reprieve for Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who had been dropped to the bench after the defeat in Joburg but now finds himself back in the run-on team. Manie Libbok is the back-up fly-half.

How this alters Erasmus’ approach will be fascinating to see. The selection of Pollard was widely viewed as a return to basics for the Boks. The double World Cup-winner is a safe pair of hands who knows how to win a Test match but is a more conservative choice than either Feinberg-Mngomezulu or Libbok. While the latter two may lack a little of Pollard’s nous, they are supremely gifted.

South Africa have also made a change on the wing after Cheslin Kolbe proved his fitness in training. He takes the place of Kurt-Lee Arendse on the right.

Erasmus didn’t shy away from the poverty of his team’s performance in the first Test but stressed their ability to recover from adversity.

‘Both teams will be better this weekend’ - Rennie

“We have been in many catastrophic situations in our lives,” said the coach. “We lost the first Test against the British & Irish Lions [in 2021] and everyone said it was a catastrophe [South Africa won the series 2-1].

“We lost the first pool game against New Zealand in the World Cup [in 2019] and everyone said that was catastrophic [South Africa went on to lift the trophy], so we have been in a lot of catastrophic situations.”

South Africa cannot afford another defeat if they want to win the four-Test series.

New Zealand have made three personnel changes and one positional for the game in Cape Town. Loosehead prop Ethan de Groot and lock Josh Lord are both out after sustaining concussions in the first Test. In come George Bower, a replacement last weekend, and Tupou Vaa'i, who moves from the back row to lock. Vaa'i is replaced in the back row by Simon Parker.

There is one change in the backline as Josh Moorby, a try scorer at Ellis Park, drops to the bench and is replaced on the wing by Leroy Carter.

“While we were happy with the win last week, I think both teams will be better this weekend, said New Zealand head coach Dave Rennie said.

The former Glasgow Warriors coach has steered the All Blacks to wins over France, Italy, Ireland and South Africa since replacing Scott Robertson.

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry teams

South Africa v New Zealand, second Test, Cape Town, Saturday 4.10pm BST. Live on Sky Sports

South Africa: South Africa: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de ⁠Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach; 1 Ox Nche, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Wilco Louw, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Ruan Nortje, 6 Siya Kolisi (capt), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Jasper Wiese. Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du ​Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Morne van den Berg, 23 Manie Libbok.

New Zealand: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leroy Carter, ⁠10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard; 1 George Bower, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Fabian Holland, 5 Tupou Vaa'i, 6 Simon Parker, 7 Luke Jacobsen, 8 Ardie Savea (capt). Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Anton ‌Lienert-Brown, 23 Josh Moorby.