Kolisi fit to start for Boks against All Blacks as Pollard, Le Roux return to starting XV

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has been declared fit to start in Saturday's Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks in Cape Town.

Kolisi took a heavy blow to the face in last weekend's 31-27 win over New Zealand at Ellis Park, but he'll start in the No 6 jersey at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

READ | Beauden Barrett benched as All Blacks shake up backline for Bok Test in Cape Town

Springbok management said Kolisi made it through all the training sessions this week, and was subsequently cleared to play.

There's also a return to the starting XV for flyhalf Handre Pollard and fullback Willie le Roux, who start in place of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Aphelele Fassi respectively.

Canan Moodie also starts at right wing in place of Kurt-Lee Arendse, who failed an HIA test after a head knock.

In all, the Bok starting XV shows seven changes.

Grant Williams starts at scrumhalf in place of Cobus Reinach, while Jaden Hendrikse comes in on the bench as backup.

Veteran lock Eben Etzebeth is also promoted from the bench to start, with Pieter-Steph du Toit moving back to flank as Ben-Jason Dixon misses out.

The Boks have reverted to a traditional five-three forwards-backs split on the bench with Lukhanyo Am joining Hendrikse and Feinberg-Mngomezulu (utility back) among the backline replacements.

South Africa

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Kwagga Smith, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Lukhanyo