Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has understandably opted for experience and strong leadership when selecting a starting line up that boasts 939 caps – the fourth highest combined total in SA rugby history.
There are 434 caps in the backline, with 505 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 206 caps.
Among four changes to the starting XV from the last Test against the Wallabies, Eben Etzebeth returns to the second row, Siya Kolisi wil make his second Test start at No 8 (but won’t be captain), while Pieter-Steph du Toit returns at flanker.
The only change in the backline is at fullback, where Willie le Roux will start his 101st Test after being forced to withdraw from the last clash against the Wallabies due to a niggle.
Erasmus made three personnel changes to the bench, with Jan-Hendrik Wessels taking over from Marnus van der Merwe at hooker, Kwagga Smith moving back to the bench in the void left by Etzebeth, and utility back Ethan Hooker in place of Andre Esterhuizen.
Interestingly, dynamic locks RG Snyman and Franco Mostert were omitted from the matchday 23, with Lood de Jager set to provide second row cover on the bench.
Erasmus has opted for a traditional 5-3 bench split that sees Cobus Reinach, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Ethan Hooker as the backline replacements. For Hooker, it could be just his second Test appearance in yet another surprise selection.
“We selected the best possible team we could for the match, knowing that this is going to be an epic encounter against the All Blacks at Eden Park, and many of these players have done the job for us before against them,” said Erasmus.
“This is obviously going to be a completely different challenge to what we’ve faced against them in the last two years, with the match being hosted in New Zealand, and also at a venue where they hold a fantastic record.
“That said, we’ve been working hard on the detail we wanted to iron out following the matches against the Wallabies since arriving in Auckland, so it’s now up to us to implement our plans and deliver a performance that we can be proud of.”
The match kicks off at 09:05 (SA time) and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
HOW THE SPRINGBOKS WILL LINE UP AT EDEN PARK
Springboks – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel (c), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Ethan Hooker.
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