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Springboks make two late changes for second test against New Zealand

Cheslin Kolbe has been declared fit to play in the second test
Cheslin Kolbe has been declared fit to play in the second testGIANLUIGI GUERCIA / AFP

South Africa have made ⁠two changes to their starting XV for the second test against New ‌Zealand in Cape Town on Saturday as Handre Pollard ‌is replaced by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu ‌and Cheslin Kolbe comes in for Kurt-Lee ‌Arendse.

Flyhalf Feinberg-Mngomezulu played in the 33-16 loss ‌to the All Blacks in Johannesburg last weekend but was dropped to the bench ‌to accommodate the experienced Pollard.

The latter ⁠has been ‌forced to pull out with a calf strain, ​though, and Feinberg-Mngomezulu is elevated to start, with Manie Libbok named ​among the replacements.

Wing Kolbe was originally not in the team that was named on ⁠Monday after ​leaving the field with a knock in Johannesburg, but has been declared fit enough to play. Arendse drops out of ‌the match-day 23 altogether.

The All Blacks are embarking upon their first full tour of South Africa since 1996! Marketed as the 'Greatest Rivalry' series, the winner will come out not only with the bragging rights but World Rugby's number one ranking. Keep up to date throughout August and September with news, previews and more. 

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The clash in Cape Town is the second of four tests in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series and will be followed on consecutive weekends by matches in Johannesburg and Baltimore in the United States.

Updated South Africa team: 15-Damian Willemse, 14-Cheslin Kolbe, 13-Jesse Kriel, 12-D‌amian de Allende, 11-Ethan Hooker, 10-Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, ​9-Cobus Reinach, 8-Jasper Wiese, 7-Pieter-Steph du Toit, ‌6-Siya Kolisi (captain), 5-Ruan Nortje, 4-Eben Etzebeth, 3-Wilco Louw, 2-Malcolm Marx, 1-Ox Nche

Replacements: 16-Deon Fourie, 17-Gerhard Steenekamp, 18-Thomas du Toit, 19-Lood de Jager, 20-Andre Esterhuizen, 21-Cameron ⁠Hanekom, 22-Morne ⁠van den Berg, ‌23-Manie Libbok.

Nick Said has been covering African sport for almost three decades, specialising in football, rugby and cricket. He is based in Cape Town, South Africa and you can follow him on X and LinkedIn.

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