Jesse Kriel will start on the wing for the Boks on Saturday. Photo by Simon West/Action Plus/Shutterstock/BackpagePix (12610059bm) Twickenham, London, England, Autumn Series International rugby, England versus South Africa: Siya Kolisi offloads to Jesse Kriel of South Africa under pressure from Freddie Steward of England; . England v South Africa, International Rugby, Twickenham Stadium, London, UK - 20 Nov 2021

Jesse Kriel will start on the wing for the Boks on Saturday. Photo by Simon West/Action Plus/Shutterstock/BackpagePix

BREAKING: Kriel cracks the nod to wing it for Boks

The Boks have unveiled the team to face the All Blacks on Saturday, which includes a number of notable selections.

Jesse Kriel will start on the wing for the Boks on Saturday. Photo by Simon West/Action Plus/Shutterstock/BackpagePix (12610059bm) Twickenham, London, England, Autumn Series International rugby, England versus South Africa: Siya Kolisi offloads to Jesse Kriel of South Africa under pressure from Freddie Steward of England; . England v South Africa, International Rugby, Twickenham Stadium, London, UK - 20 Nov 2021

Jesse Kriel will start on the wing for the Boks on Saturday. Photo by Simon West/Action Plus/Shutterstock/BackpagePix

Coach Jacques Nienaber has made five changes to the Boks’ starting lineup – two of which were injury enforced – for their second Rugby Championship clash against New Zealand in Johannesburg on Saturday, where Frans Malherbe (prop) will mark the significant career milestone of running out in his 50th Test for South Africa.

WIN | TICKETS TO WATCH THE SPRINGBOKS FACE THE ALL BLACKS AT ELLIS PARK!

The three rotational switches made by Nienaber see bruising No 8 Duane Vermeulen return to the Springbok squad after recovering from surgery to his knee, where he takes over from Jasper Wiese, while Bongi Mbonambi slots back in at hooker after Malcolm Marx earned a start last week to celebrate his 50th Test cap for the Boks, and Ox Nche takes over from Trevor Nyakane at loosehead prop.

The two changes in the backline see Jaden Hendrikse coming in at scrumhalf for Faf de Klerk, who has been placed on a return to play protocol after suffering concussion in the team’s 26-10 victory against New Zealand last week, while Jesse Kriel will start on the right wing in place of Kurt-Lee Arendse, who also suffered concussion and has been released from the squad after being handed a four-week suspension for a dangerous tackle in the match.

While Mbonambi and Marx switch roles between the starting team and replacements bench, Vermeulen’s inclusion sees Wiese take the role of an impact player in place of lock Salmaan Moerat, while Herschel Jantjies fills the void left by Hendrikse’s promotion to the Boks’ starting team.

READ | HAS IAN FOSTER LOST HIS MIND? ALL BLACKS TOO A ‘STEP UP’ HE CLAIMS!

The Boks’ team to face the all Blacks:

15 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 19 caps, 12 pts (1t, 2c, 1p)
14 – Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 52 caps, 60 pts (12t)
13 – Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks) – 29 caps, 25 pts (5t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 61 caps, 35 pts (7t)
11 – Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks) – 28 caps, 100 pts (20t)
10 – Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – 63 caps, 649 pts (7t, 88c, 141p, 5d)
9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks) – 5 caps, 5 pts (1t)

8 – Duane Vermeulen (Ulster) – 61 caps, 15 pts (3t)
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 61 caps, 25 pts (5t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Cell C Sharks) – 66 caps, 35 pts (7t)
5 – Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 59 caps, 25 pts (5t)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks) – 101 caps, 15 pts (3t)
3 – Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers) – 49 caps, 5pts (1t)
2 – Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks) – 51 caps, 55 pts (11t)
1 – Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks) – 10 caps, 0pts

Replacements:
16 – Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 50 caps, 55 pts (11t)
17 – Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers) – 62 caps, 5pts (1t)
18 – Vincent Koch (Wasps) 35 caps, 0 pts
19 – Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 54 caps, 5pts (1t)
20 – Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers) – 14 caps, 0 pts
21 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 22 caps, 5 pts (1t)
22 – Hershel Jantjies (DHL Stormers) – 22 caps, 25 pts (5t)
23 – Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz) – 75 caps, 65 pts (13t)

Springbok record against New Zealand:

Played 102; Won 38; Lost 60; Drawn 4; Points for: 1651; Points against: 2108, Tries scored 158; Tries conceded 230; Highest score 46-40 in Johannesburg (2000); Biggest win 17-0 in Durban, 1928. Win % 37%. 

Milestones:

  • Handre Pollard is the second highest point scorer against New Zealand with 136 points in 13 Test matches, just 3 points less than Morné Steyn with 139 points in 13 Test matches.
  • The very first Test match at Ellis Park was played against New Zealand on 21 July, 1928. New Zealand won this opening Test match 7-6.
  • To date a further 13 Test matches between the Springboks and All Blacks were played at Ellis Park, with the Springboks’ winning nine of those 14 Tests, while the average score in these matches was 23-21.
  • The first Test match against New Zealand in South Africa took place on 30 June, 1928 at Kingsmead in Durban. The Springboks won that match 17-0, the biggest winning margin against New Zealand until today.

Miscellaneous:

  • The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 715.
  • There are 257 caps in the backline with 458 caps amongst the forwards. On the bench there are a further 334 caps.
  • The average caps per player in the backline are 36, the forwards 57, while the players on the bench average 41.