Bok coach Nienaber explains Kurt-Lee Arendse start: 'A like-for-like replacement for Cheslin'

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber said Kurt-Lee Arendse's similarity to Cheslin Kolbe, along with his excellent debut against Wales, informed his start in Saturday's first Test against the All Blacks in Mbombela.

Jesse Kriel was used at right wing last year in S'bu Nkosi's absence while Kolbe was also recovering from injury.

READ | Springboks back Arendse as Kolbe replacement for All Blacks, Faf returns

Kolbe sustained a jaw injury in the third Test against Wales at the Cape Town Stadium last month and that opened up the chance to Arendse to impress.

That's what the Bulls utility back did when he made his debut in the second Wales Test and that swayed Nienaber's mind.

"Kurt-Lee performed well in the second Test and there are a lot of similarities when you look at his game and Cheslin's," Nienaber said.

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Step du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Trevor Nyakane

Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Willie le Roux

"We've got a like-for-like replacement there, but we're also rewarding performance. I think he played very well in the Wales Test."

Two other changes Nienaber made were of Faf de Klerk starting for the first time since the first Wales Test while Malcolm Marx will also get a start in what will be his 50th Test.

Nienaber was confident in the role De Klerk will play, especially against the New Zealand half-back pairing that could and should have a lot to prove after the Ireland series.

"We've won