Springboks team to face the All Blacks - Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth return to starting XV

The major headline is the return of South Africa’s most capped player, Eben Etzebeth, who will win his 136th Test alongside Ruan Nortje in the second row. Kolisi, back from a minor injury, is shifted to number eight for only the second time in his career, while Pieter-Steph du Toit reclaims his place on the flank. The only back-line change sees Willie le Roux resturn to fullback for his 101st Test, after missing out against the win over the Wallabies.

Erasmus kept faith with much of the Cape Town squad, with 17 players retained, but freshened his bench with hooker Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Kwagga Smith and young utility back Ethan Hooker.

"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.

The Boks boss was clear about the scale of the challenge at New Zealand’s fortress, where South Africa have not tasted victory since 1937. The All Blacks have not lost at Eden Park since 1994, underlining the enormity of the task ahead.

"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.”

South Africa are chasing a fifth consecutive win over New Zealand, having clinched the Freedom Cup last season for the first time since 2009. The Springboks’ longest winning run against the All Blacks remains six Tests, achieved between 1937 and 1949, and victory this weekend would equal that historic streak while breaking their 87-year Eden Park hoodoo.

The occasion will be doubly significant, with Ardie Savea set to play his 100th Test for the All Blacks, in an achievement Erasmus praised.

"Playing 100 Tests is one of the most special milestones a player can achieve, and we’d like to congratulate Ardie for reaching this feat. He’s been a true servant to New Zealand rugby, and he deserves all the recognition that comes with that. It also doesn’t get more special than playing at their fortress in such a massive game.”

With a starting XV boasting 939 combined caps, the fourth most experienced line-up in Springbok history and the midfield pairing of Kriel and Damian de Allende extending their record partnership to 39 Tests, Erasmus knows his squad has the experience to rise to the occasion.

15 Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls) – 101 caps
14 Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath) – 42 caps
13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles, captain) – 82 caps
12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 90 caps
11 Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 16 caps
10 Handré Pollard (Vodacom Bulls) – 83 caps
9 Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 21 caps
8 Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 94 caps
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 89 caps
6 Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 29 caps
5 Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 9 caps
4 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 135 caps
3 Thomas du Toit (Bath) – 26 caps
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 80 caps
1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 43 caps

Replacements:
16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls) – 5 caps
17 Boan Venter (Edinburgh) – 3 caps
18 Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 20 caps
19 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 69 caps
20 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 55 caps
21 Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers) – 42 caps
22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 11 caps
23 Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 1 cap