No Eben, as Boks back Sacha, Fassi for epic All Blacks showdown
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has made several changes to his team for Saturday's Rugby Championship encounter against the All Blacks at Ellis Park.
In all, there are nine changes to the team that beat the Wallabies 30-12 in Perth.
The Boks are without veteran lock Eben Etzebeth, who is sidelined with a meniscus injury. Salmaan Moerat, who was the captain for the Perth Test but left the field injured due to concussion, is also unavailable.
As such, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Ruan Nortje will form the lock combination.
UPDATE | Eben drama! Rassie shocks by confirming Etzebeth could STILL play against All Blacks
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu also retains the No 10 jumper, with Handre Pollard staying on the bench, while Aphelele Fassi is retained at fullback ahead of Willie le Roux.
There is also a welcome return from suspension for Jasper Wiese, who will start at No 8.
The Bok pack shows six changes to the starting line-up that appeared in Perth with a new front row of Ox Nche and the recall of the rested Frans Malherbe and Bongi Mbonambi.
Du Toit moves from the side of the scrum to partner Nortje, while Wiese is joined in the loose trio by captain Siya Kolisi and Ben-Jason Dixon, who has recovered from the knee injury that ruled him out of the Perth Test.
In the backline, Erasmus also recalled Damian de Allende to partner Jesse Kriel at centre, with Kurt-Lee Arendse also back in the team, linking up with Cheslin Kolbe and Fassi in the back three.
15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Substitutes: 16