Du Toit at lock for Springboks among 9 changes for Rugby Championship test vs. New Zealand

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has named backrower Pieter-Steph du Toit at lock in place of injured Eben Etzebeth in his lineup for the Rugby Championship test against New Zealand at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Du Toit will combine in the second row with Ruan Nortje for the first of two tests between the teams after Etzebeth failed a fitness test on an injured knee.

Erasmus has made nine changes from the second Championship test against Australia two weeks ago. South Africa leads with two wins. New Zealand and Argentina have a win each. Australia lost both of its first two matches.

Du Toit’s move to the second row also has been forced by injuries to locks R.G. Snyman, Franco Mostert, Jean Kleyn, Salmaan Moerat and Lood de Jager.

“Eben may have been ready to play this week if we really needed him,” Erasmus said. “But we feel we will benefit more from selecting a player who is 100 percent fit."

Salmaan likely will be “back in the selection frame next week,” Erasmus added. “We’re happy that things will ease significantly for us in that department going into the second test (at Cape Town).”

In other changes to the team that beat Australia 33-12 in Perth, Jasper Wiese returns to the back row after a six-week suspension and Aphelele Fassi takes over from Willie le Roux at fullback.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu retains the No. 10 jersey while props Ox Nche and Frans Malherbe and hooker Bongi Mbonambi return among six changes to the pack.

Wiese is joined in the back row by Siya Kolisi and Ben-Jason Dixon, who has recovered from a knee injury.

Among the backs, Cobus Reinach will start at scrumhalf while Damian de Allende has been recalled to join Jesse Kriel in midfield with Kurt-Lee Arendse returning on the left wing.

Erasmus once again has gone for a six-two split of forwards and backs on the bench. Hooker Malcolm Marx is joined by props Gerhard Steenekamp and Vincent Koch and backrowers Elrigh Louw, Marco van Staden and Kwagga Smith. Grant Williams and Handre Pollard are the backline replacements.

“It’s not ideal that we have so many injuries at lock but we are pleased with the way (Nortje) stood his man in our last match and we are confident that he’ll combine well with Pieter-Steph at lock,” Erasmus said. “This will serve as a fantastic opportunity for him to prove what he can do against one of the best teams in the world.

Wiese will “bring a lot of energy on attack and defense,” Erasmus said, "after biding his time to return to the field and we are looking forward to seeing his physicality combined with the rest of the back row.”

The South Africa lineup includes 12 players who featured in last year’s Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand which the Springboks won by a point.

“There is also no doubt (New Zealand) still will be hurting from the Rugby World Cup final and in addition to that they know how important a win will be to square things up and open up the Rugby Championship log,” Erasmus said.

“They’re a quality team with several players who have an X-factor and they constantly pose a threat to our defense so we have to start well and be on the top of our game in all departments to try to build on what we have done in the competition so far.”

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South Africa: Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cobus Reinach; Jasper Wiese, Ben-Jason Dixon, Siya Kolisi (captain), Ruan Nortje, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche. Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Marco van Staden, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Grant Williams, Handre Pollard.

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby