Overview
- South Africa levelled the four-Test series at 1-1 following a 33-26 win in Cape Town on Saturday, a result sealed by Cheslin Kolbe’s perfect kicking from four penalties and three conversions.
- Coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed Damian Willemse will miss the third Test with a hamstring injury and that Kolbe will move from wing to fullback with Kurt-Lee Arendse recalled to the starting XV.
- Erasmus restored Malcolm Marx, Ox Nché and Wilco Louw to the starting front row, explaining the change as a return to the scrummaging combination he prefers for Johannesburg conditions.
- Both camps have publicly flagged set-piece and breakdown interpretation as decisive issues, with Erasmus urging protocol for raising officiating concerns and New Zealand warning refereeing will shape the contest.
- The winner in Soweto will take a crucial advantage before the series finale in Baltimore, while Eben Etzebeth will extend his Springbok appearance record to 145 and coaches must manage workloads across the compressed schedule.