The Springboks welcome the return of Canan Moodie and Jaden Hendrikse for the Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks in Cape Town, while the seasoned flyhalf, Handré Pollard, earns a start.

Moodie will start on the right wing for his first Test of the season, while Hendrikse has been named on the bench.

‘Siya Kolisi is fit after a suspected facial fracture’

Grant Williams, who scored a try in the 31-27 win last week in Johannesburg, will start at scrumhalf where he will form the halfback combination with Pollard. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who donned the number ten jersey for the bulk of the season, has been rotated to the bench.

Upfront, Siya Kolisi is fit after a suspected facial fracture, and he will once again lead the team onto the park. Eben Etzebeth returns to the starting XV and he will play in the second row alongside Ruan Nortjé, while Pieter-Steph du Toit moves back to flank.

Grant Williams. Picture: Morgan Piek

The Springboks coach, Rassie Erasmus, said they are expecting the All Blacks to respond after their defeat at Ellis Park last week and it’s important to have players such as Kolisi and Etzebeth starting. “This match is going to be massive,” said Erasmus.

“New Zealand are a world-class outfit and we know that they’ll be desperate to bounce back after leading in the second half last week.

‘It’s going to take a huge team effort to register a victory’

“They’ll also be fully aware of the fact that a victory could give them a huge boost on the Rugby Championship standings, and they’ll be playing to retain the Freedom Cup, which they’ve held since 2010. It’s going to be another epic encounter.

“They’re a quality team with a lot of pace and several players who have a great X-factor. We also saw last week what they can do if they get a strong start. They have proven time and time again that they are a team that can close out games under a lot of pressure in the last 20 minutes, so it’s going to take a huge team effort to register a victory against them.”

Saturday’s Test at the Cape Town Stadium in Green Point kicks off at 17:00.

Springboks – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handré 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

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

All Blacks – 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Tele’a, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Wallace Sititi, 5 Tupou Vaa'i, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tamaiti Williams

Replacements – 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Sam Darry, 20 Luke Jacobson, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Beauden Barrett

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg/mvh