The Springbok management has confirmed what had become an open secret - that Handre Pollard will miss Saturday’s second Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry test match against the All Blacks in Cape Town because of a hamstring injury.
However, they went a bit further on Friday morning, with further confirmation coming that wing Cheslin Kolbe has been past fit to play and will replace Kurt-Lee Arendse in the starting team that was announced at the start of the week.
It may feel like the Boks have deliberately kept the All Blacks guessing on Kolbe, but coach Rassie Erasmus did say at the team announcement press conference on Monday that Kolbe might still play if he recovers sufficiently from an ankle injury.
Kolbe initially left the field in the second half of the 33-16 first test defeat in Johannesburg with what was thought was cramp. Erasmus then said he also had an ankle injury. Whatever the case, he is fit again now and will take his place on the wing, with Arendse, who went off because of an HIA assessment last week, dropping out of the match day squad.
𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Cheslin Kolbe and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu have been drafted into the starting line-up for Test two of #RugbysGreatestRivalry 🇿🇦
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 28, 2026
Kurt-Lee Arendse and Handre Pollard have been replaced, while Manie Libbok has moved into the 23 jersey on the bench 🚨 pic.twitter.com/Vd9o59DpyV
It seems a wise decision to stick with Ethan Hooker as the other wing given his size and height plus his excellent defensive ability. He also brings an extra option for the Boks if there is a similar injury crisis to the one that saw the defensive organiser Jesse Kriel shifted to the wing last week, as Hooker has also played much of his rugby in both centre positions.
RUMOUR’S OF POLLARD’S INJURY STARTED ON THURSDAY
It was learned on Thursday that Pollard had suffered a hamstring injury and was doubtful to play but the change was only confirmed on Friday morning, along with the Koble’s return to the starting team.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who started in the No 10 jersey at Ellis Park, comes back into the starting team, with Manie Libbok reprising his role of a week ago as the only specialist outside back cover, although of course the hybrid player Andre Esterhuizen is a centre when he is not moonlighting as a flank.
The loss of Pollard may not be as big a blow as some might think it is if the insanely talented Feinberg-Mngomezulu can rediscover the form that last year saw him rated by many as either the current best flyhalf in the world or else a future best in the position. He was erratic last week against the All Blacks but he was not helped by the poor form and poor service of his halfback partner, Grant Williams.
Williams has made way this week for Cobus Reinach, ostensibly because of an injury, but would have been under threat for his place anyway. Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Reinach have played several tests together and also play for the Stormers so will be no stranger to either each other or the match venue.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu does bring a better attacking dynamic to Pollard’s more steady and less flamboyant approach and while the latter was clearly chosen for tactical kicking game in the event of wet weather, it is not as if the younger player lacks field kicking ability and tactical nous.
What the Boks may lose with the change is the extra depth to the bench that was there when Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who can play anywhere at the back outside of scrumhalf, was in the impact squad.
Although he has played fullback in his younger days, Libbok is a specialist flyhalf. However, Hooker’s presence in the team negates the threat of an injury causing the crisis it did at the back last week when several positional switches became necessary.
With Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Hooker both in the team the Boks do look a more potent attacking force as they line up for this game than was the case when the initial team was selected.
Updated Springbok team: Damian Willemse, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Ethan Hooker, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cobus Reinach, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain), Ruan Nortje, Eben Etzebeth, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche.
Replacements: Deon Fourie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Lood de Jager, Andre Esterhuizen, Cameron Hanekom, Morne van den Bergh, Manie Libbok.