There was some good news from Springbok training on Wednesday as Siya Kolisi looked to have recovered from a worrying facial injury, but unfortunately another high-profile World Cup winner will not be available this week.
As expected, Kurt-Lee Arendse – who seen watching from the sidelines – will not be available this week after suffering a head knock that requires him to serve a mandatory ‘stand down’ period of rest.
It’s likely that Arendse will be replaced by veteran Makazole Mapimpi, who was in fine try-scoring form for the Sharks this past weekend, while Canan Moodie is another option after he was recalled to the squad.
The Springboks will name their match-day 23 on Thursday morning around 09:00, with the team then set to wrap up their on-field preparations on Friday at their traditional captain’s run.
victory for the Springboks would mark only the second time in history that they win four matches in a row against the All Blacks. The last won four in a row between 1937 and 1949 – when the Boks went on to win six consecutive Tests against the Kiwis.
It would also be the first four-peat since rugby unity in South Africa in the early 1990s, while victory at the DHL Stadium would also see the Boks clinch the Freedom Cup for the first time since 2009.
Last week’s third successive win over their arch-rivals marked only the second time in the professional era that the Springboks had achieved a trio of wins, with the other occasion in 2009.
Elrigh Louw, who is in the selection mix once again to face the All Blacks at the DHL Stadium this weekend, said the players were psyched up for the match, and was not bothered by the fact that the All Blacks have enjoyed fantastic support in the province in the past.
“Cape Town is renowned for their support for the All Blacks, but the people’s support for us also means a lot, so I don’t think it will be a big factor in in our motivation for the match and how we perform,” he said.
“Personally, it was a massive dream come true to face New Zealand and also to do so at Emirates Airline Park. At this stage it has to rank as my biggest rugby highlight, and especially the way we came back from behind to get the win,” added Louw.
Springboks (probable) – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Handre Pollard.
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