South Africa is no longer looking down the rankings on the rest of world rugby for the first time in almost a year.
New Zealand officially replaced the two-time world champion Springboks as the No.1 men's Test side after the shocking 33-16 win last Sunday at the launch of their first four-Test series in 50 years.
The second Test in Cape Town this Sunday morning (NZT) has become a must win for the host. Lose again and South Africa can no longer win a series it started as the heavy favourite.
Coach Rassie Erasmus reacted overnight to their heaviest defeat at Ellis Park to New Zealand with four changes to the starting XV — the fewest changes he's made this year — and brought in five new reserves.
Siya Kolisi was bracketed with Paul de Villiers in the only (possible) change to the forward pack, Handré Pollard and Cobus Reinach were the new halves, and winger Ethan Hooker replaced an injured Cheslin Kolbe.
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Onto another bench split 6-2 came hooker hybrid Deon Fourie, prop Thomas du Toit, lock Lood de Jager, flanker Cameron Hanekom, and scrumhalf Morné van den Berg. All bar Fourie were involved in the 17-10 win over Argentina on August 9.
Erasmus believed South Africa did enough in the first hour to win at Ellis Park. It dominated the scrums and mauls and owned the sky. But it failed to convert numerous chances.
“Most of the things we inflicted on ourselves, and that's frustrating,” Erasmus said. "We are irritated with each other inside the camp.
“We've got a big hiding of 17 points. When they got the two, three opportunities, like New Zealand most of the years in the past, they converted.”
The bench didn't have the impact he expected because the starters didn't take their chances, he added.
“Our plans didn't work, and that's on me," Erasmus said. "They, and I'm including the coaches there, didn't give those guys the platform to actually go on and finish those things. They had to chase the game.”
Kolisi has to survive training
Kolisi is chasing a start. If he proves his hamstring can stand the rigours of training he'll captain the Springboks on Sunday. Kolisi has played only 25 minutes in the last two months because of injuries to both hamstrings, the last time against Argentina. In his absence, de Villiers has received his first four caps and become a breakout star.
“Paul played well on Saturday and there's no reason why we should keep him out,” Erasmus said. ”But Siya is our captain."
As good as de Villiers has been, Kolisi's more all-round, veteran game would have strengthened the Springboks against New Zealand, Erasmus added.
“There were lots of times that we played badly, not because they did anything illegal, but we couldn't get the ball away out of the breakdown when we were in really good attacking positions. Siya's really good at that,” the coach said.
"And then he's really good at getting us from defence — him and Pieter-Steph [du Toit] together, we call it ‘the gates’ — they're well organised in the defensive sets in the gates. That was definitely something which we lacked.
“But Paul will just get better. He's only played four matches. I think Siya will definitely help us in those two areas.”
If Kolisi plays, South Africa will field its most experienced starting line-up at 1,012 caps, including four centurions: Kolisi, caps record-holder Eben Etzebeth, Damian de Allende and du Toit, the stand-in captain.
Du Toit, a two-time world player of the year, will become the 11th Springbok to 100 Test caps. He made his debut in 2013.
Pollard 'delivered under pressure'
Erasmus has rotated his flyhalf this year and returned to Pollard, who kicked South Africa to victory in the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup finals. Pollard is more conservative than rivals Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who started the first Test, and Manie Libbok, who has been dropped.
But Pollard's game management and tactical kicking were his trump cards.
“Handré has delivered for us under extreme pressure,” Erasmus said.
Fourie parlayed an impressive game for the Stormers in New Zealand's tour opener into a recall to the Springboks after two years ruined by injuries. His last Test cap was the 2023 World Cup final against New Zealand. If he comes off the bench on Sunday, Fourie will become the oldest Springbok in a Test at 39, surpassing Victor Matfield and Schalk Brits.
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“One could see the hurt on everyone’s faces after Saturday’s match, and we know what we have to do to bounce back strongly this week,” Erasmus said. “We have regrouped and identified the areas of our game we need to fix.”
Beside Kolbe, who has hamstring and ankle issues, South Africa's wounded included scrumhalf Grant Williams (ankle), utility back Canan Moodie (hamstring) and flanker Ben-Jason Dixon (concussion).
New Zealand will name its Test side early Friday morning NZT. It plays its last tour game against a club, the Lions, tomorrow morning at Ellis Park.
South Africa team
15. Damian Willemse, 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Ethan Hooker, 10. Handré Pollard, 9. Cobus Reinach; 8. Jasper Wiese, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), 6. Siya Kolisi/Paul de Villiers, 5. Ruan Nortjé, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Wilco Louw, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Ox Nché. Reserves: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Gerhard Steenekamp, 18. Thomas du Toit, 19. Lood de Jager, 20. André Esterhuizen, 21. Cameron Hanekom, 22. Morné van den Berg, 23. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
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