South Africa’s coach, Rassie Erasmus, has made 12 changes to the starting line-up that will face New Zealand in a Rugby Championship match in Wellington on Saturday.
Duane Vermeulen will captain the Springboks for the first time, becoming his country’s 62nd test captain. Wholesale changes to the starting fifteen was not unexpected. Many key players already travelled to New Zealand last week, but certain positions or combinations such as scrumhalf and tighthead prop as well as the loose trio and centre combination have now become very competitive.
Player of the match against the Wallabies, Jantjies, was included as a replacement while hooker, Bongi Mbonambi and Steyn will also start on the bench.