'Enforcer' Duane Vermeulen starts for Boks vs All Blacks in Frans Malherbe's 50th Test

Fulcrum back-row forward Duane Vermeulen has been named to start at No 8 for the Springboks in their second Rugby Championship clash against the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Vermeulen replaces Jasper Wiese in the starting XV, who drops to the bench, while Jesse Kriel takes the No 14 jersey vacated by Kurt-Lee Arendse's suspension as expected.

Bok head coach Jacques Nienaber made five changes in all for the game, including swapping hookers Bongi Mbonambi and Malcolm Marx, who started in Mbombela and bringing in Ox Nche for Trevor Nyakane, who misses out completely.

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Herschel Jantjies also returns into match 23 for the first time since coming off the bench late in the Boks' win over Wales at Loftus last month.

The Boks lost Faf de Klerk early to a concussion in the 26-10 win over New Zealand in Mbombela last weekend, which necessitated a halfback switch with Jaden Hendrikse starting this week.

"We made a few changes to the team, but Duane, Jesse and Herschel are all experienced players who know our systems well and have been stalwarts for the Boks," said Nienaber.

"Duane has a massive presence on the field and there is no bigger game for him to make his comeback from injury than facing the All Blacks.

"He is an enforcer on attack and defence and we know he will give everything against a physical All Blacks team that is desperate to bounce back strongly from a challenging run of results.

"Jasper is also a warrior, and we know that he will have an equally strong presence when he takes the field.

 "Jesse has played over 50 Tests, and he has been waiting in the wings for his chance. He's played wing for us before, so we know