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Springboks captain Kolisi to miss first All Blacks Test / Photo: © AFP
Springboks captain Kolisi to miss first All Blacks Test
South Africa captain Siya Kolisi will miss the first Test against New Zealand in Johannesburg on Saturday as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
"Siya trained well with us this week, and although we could have selected him for this clash, we thought it would be best to select Paul (de Villiers)," said head coach Rassie Erasmus.
"We are playing four Tests against the All Blacks and Paul has been playing well," the coach said of the flanker who debuted against England in the Nations Championship last month.
"So we are excited to give him a chance this weekend in what will be his first Test match against New Zealand, while taking a precautionary approach to Siya's return."
Erasmus has given the key fly-half role to Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who returned to action in a Test win in Argentina this month after recovering from an ankle injury.
The playmaker, who scored a Springbok record 37 points last year in another Test against Argentina, got the nod over Manie Libbok, who is among the eight replacements.
Inside centre Damian de Allende will become the 10th Springbok centurion when he lines up against the All Blacks.
"He is a great team man, and servant to the game, so we hope we can make it a memorable day for him," said Erasmus.
"That said, his focus all week has only been on this match, and he will certainly not let the occasion shadow what he has to do on the field."
There were a couple of slight surprises in the starting XV with scrum-half Grant Williams preferred to Cobus Reinach and tighthead prop Wilco Louw chosen ahead of Thomas du Toit.
An outstanding performance by No 8 Cameron Hanekom in the 17-10 win over Argentina was not enough to earn him a place in the matchday 23.
South Africa (15-1)
Damian Willemse; Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Grant Williams; Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt), Paul de Villiers; Ruan Nortje, Eben Etzebeth; Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche
Replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Zachary Porthen, Cobus Wiese, Andre Esterhuizen, Marco van Staden, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok
Coach: Rassie Erasmus (RSA)
L.Sawicki--GL
