By Sophie Frost
After a hard-fought and nerve-racking 41-35 win over the Lions, the All Blacks keep their perfect record during the 2026 Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour.
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Going into the second Test match between the two international sides, Rennie and Erasmus have made some big changes.
Rennie has named his men with injury replacement George Bower starting at loosehead prop and Simon Parker making his first start on the tour at blindside flanker.
Ardie Savea remains captain, with the in-form Rueben Love claiming the competitive starting No. 10 jersey once again. A notable change has been made to the left wing, with Leroy Carter moving to starting No. 11 instead of Josh Moorby, who has moved to the bench.
In opposition to this side, the Springboks have been forced into some late changes. After previously deciding to bring back their veterans, Rassie Erasmus has since stood down a returning Handre Pollard, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu gifted a chance to redeem himself after a poor outing in Johannesburg. Cheslin Kolbe has also past a late fitness assessment, and re-claims his place on the starting wing, with Manie Libbok now dropped to the bench.
With a hurting Springboks side out for blood and an All Blacks outfit not ready to lose their streak, here are three key battles that may determine the result tomorrow night in Cape Town.
Back row and Captains : Siya Kolisi vs Ardie Savea
A profound off-field brotherhood between these two men is balanced by one of modern rugby’s fiercest on-field rivalries. After locking horns in some of rugby’s most memorable moments, these two leaders will battle it out as captains for the upcoming game.
Erasmus named his squad earlier this week, with the huge announcement of naming Siya Kolisi as his returning captain. After suffering a hamstring strain against Argentina on August 8, Kolisi missed the first Test against the All Blacks at Ellis Park. However, the Springboks have confirmed he will be captaining the side in the upcoming Test match, to relieve Pieter-Steph du Toit of the duties as stand-in skipper.
Kolisi is no doubt an excellent player. With 104 international Test caps and 14 tries under his belt, he has led his team to victory in the last two consecutive World Cup finals. The most recent of the two was against the All Blacks in an intense 12-11 showdown. Therefore, the experienced flanker has displayed crucial leadership over the years, creating an edge for the South African team.
However, last week, the Springboks struggled to convert pressure to points and made costly errors. Rassie’s decision to bring in Kolisi’s leadership and experience could prove essential for South Africa. It is unfortunate for Paul de Villiers, as after a brilliant first Test match, he’s initially being bracketed for Kolisi; nevertheless, this may be the change the Springboks need to get over the line. However, will it be enough to take down Rennie’s men, who are currently sitting on a 5-0 winning streak in South Africa.
Rennie has decided to name Savea as No. 8 and captain again after the successful first Test. Savea is known for setting a high standard as both a captain and a player by producing a resilient defensive effort and keeping a calm composure in high-pressure situations. The last time Savea and Kolisi went head-to-head as named captains was in 2021, when the All Blacks won the historic encounter in the 100th Test match between the two sides.
However, they have met numerous times since then in their respective positions, which has only fuelled the rivalry between these two players. Giving Savea the opportunity to prove his side can win against a Springboks team led by a two-time world champion captain, who are out for revenge.
Fly-half: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu vs Rueben Love
After converting four out of the five attempts at the posts, Ruben Love has retained the No. 10 jersey again. In opposition to this, Rassie has brought back in Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, in a late change to the starting XV.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu was initially moved to the replacement bench after a rusty performance in the previous Test match, with Handre Pollard named earlier in the week to start at number 10 in green and gold. However, an undisclosed ‘niggle’ has caused the Bulls veteran to be withdrawn from action, prompting the younger out-half to return to the starting stage for a crack at redemption.
Valued for his dynamism and tactically accurate kicking style, the fly-half will be bringing a live-wire advantage to Rassie’s men. Whilst Pollard was selected for his tried and tested calmness under pressure, and ability to steer his men forward in high-pressure games, Sacha brings the maverick style in his attack, with an x-factor of unpredictability in Stormers and Springbok colours.
In reply to this decision, Rennie has decided to bring back Ruben Love as the starting first five, despite the strong competition for the No. 10 jersey from the returning Richie Mo’unga against the Lions. With the competitive line-up for the fly-half position, Love will have to prove why he deserves to stay in it.
With the 25-year-old already impressing early in his Test career, alongside strong goal-kicking and explosive playmaking, Love will be wanting to make a statement. The battle between these two players will become evident with how accurately they convert kicking into points and their abilities to create opportunities for their sides. In this late change to the script, Love lines up against Sacha in this ultimate battle between two enigmatic out-halves, who can turn defence into attack with a single step.
Expect two blazing gunslinger approaches to their attacking lines this week, as Sacha and Love set out to prove that the future is in fact now for the Springboks and All Blacks selectors.
Left Wing: Ethan Hooker vs Leroy Carter
A surprise switch of the No. 11 jersey for the All Blacks sees Leroy Carter start on the left wing instead of Josh Moorby, who impressed upon the first Test at Ellis Park. Going against Carter will be rising newcomer Ethan Hooker for the Springboks.
Even with Cheslin Kolbe returning to the side, Rassie Erasmus has backed Hooker for a strong performance, as the Sharks man keeps his grip upon the staring XV. This will be the 23-year-old’s first opportunity to make an impact on this tour. His authoritative and defensive grit, while efficiently operating on the backline, will particularly come in clutch against the All Blacks, who will be focusing on preventing Springbok attacking momentum.
While he primarily plays in the midfield for the Sharks, Hooker has proven a depth touch upon the wing for the Springboks. This type of versatility from the Westville-born star gives South Africa an edge when it comes to flexible attack options. However, Leroy Carter is also an adaptable player.
The New Zealand winger made an impressive Test debut in Wellington on September 13, 2025, scoring a try in his first appearance. Carter’s standout performance in the Super Rugby Pacific season with the Chiefs, after transitioning from the All Blacks Sevens, has shown he has the potential to have a very successful Test career.
Carter’s defensive work and experience in Sevens may have contributed to Rennie’s decision to promote him from the bench. Although shorter than most, he has proved his defensive reliability in high-pressure situations. His background as a Sevens player has taught him relentless work off the ball and the ability to react defensively at any given moment.
Areas where Hooker and Carter will clash are in aerial battles, with playmakers such as Ruben Love for New Zealand and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu for South Africa launching cross-kicks. The two left wings will find themselves competing for high balls often, with one misread or dropped ball creating a try-scoring opportunity for the opposite player.
The physical and robust presence of Hooker versus the highly agile Carter will be a battle worth watching. For both players, this is an opportunity to prove why they were selected and secure another Test appearance in the jersey.
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