Pieter-Steph du Toit and Vincent Koch to start for South Africa on Saturday
Thursday 15 September 2016 16:49, UK
South Africa have made two changes to their starting line-up ahead of the must-win Rugby Championship clash with New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday.
Coach Allister Coetzee has promoted lock Pieter-Steph du Toit and prop Vincent Koch, and has also made three changes on the bench.
Du Toit replaces Lood de Jager, who sustained a severely bruised knee in last week's loss to Australia in Brisbane, while Koch has been chosen ahead of Lourens Adriaanse.
Regarding the replacements, uncapped hooker Malcolm Marx is set for a debut off the bench, while Willem Alberts fills the gap left by Du Toit and centre Damian de Allende comes in for Lionel Mapoe.
Live Rugby Championship
The Springboks need to defeat the world champions if they are to stay in with a chance of winning the championship, having suffered their second defeat in three matches when they lost 23-17 to the Aussies.
Coetzee said: "We know that our discipline was not on par against the Wallabies in Brisbane, and we have to show a big improvement on several fronts.
"Our defence will have to be solid for the full duration of the match, because the All Blacks have the game-breakers that will punish you for any defensive lapse.
"I have decided on a six-two split on the bench again, as I believe Willem and Jaco (Kriel) will each make a big impact when they enter the field of play.
"I decided to swap Damian with Lionel to ensure we have cover for the inside centre position."
Coetzee said the decision to bring in Marx after Bongi Mbonambi had been the preferred back-up hooker is part of his long-term planning.
"Malcolm has huge potential and we have a plan for him and Bongi Mbonambi because of Adriaan Strauss' retirement at the end of the season," Coetzee explained. "Malcolm now gets a chance on the reserve bench."
Flanker Francois Louw will earn his 50th cap while Bryan Habana makes his 120th appearance, setting a new world Test record for a wing.
The last time South Africa won in New Zealand was seven years ago when they triumphed 32-29 in Hamilton, and the All Blacks are unbeaten in 43 Test matches at home against all opposition since then.
South Africa: 15 Johan Goosen, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Adriaan Strauss (capt), 3 Vincent Koch, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Francois Louw, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 8 Warren Whiteley
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Jaco Kriel, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Damian de Allende.
