Springboks bench Feinberg-Mngomezulu for All Blacks rematch after series opener loss

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus has made several changes to his starting side ahead of Saturday's second Test against New Zealand in Cape Town, as the Springboks look to level the four-match series following a 33-16 defeat in Johannesburg.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who lost possession five times and was exposed defensively in the opener before shifting to full-back in the second half, has been dropped to the bench. Double World Cup winner Handre Pollard, 32, returns at fly-half in his place.

Injuries to Cheslin Kolbe and Grant Williams have opened the door for Ethan Hooker and Cobus Reinach to start at wing and scrum-half respectively. Siya Kolisi could return to the back row after recovering from a hamstring injury, though Erasmus has named Paul de Villiers as cover at blindside flanker in case Kolisi isn't ready. Thirty-nine-year-old Deon Fourie, who featured for 77 minutes in the 2023 World Cup final win over New Zealand, could win his first cap since then after being named among the replacements.

Erasmus said his side created plenty of scoring chances in the opener but were undone by costly mistakes at key moments, adding that the team would focus this week on sharpening its execution.

On the New Zealand side, there is a chance Richie Mo'unga, 32, could be recalled for Test duty. He was the All Blacks' first-choice fly-half during the 2023 World Cup but had been ineligible for selection while playing club rugby in Japan. A move to Canterbury and an injury to Billy Proctor have now opened a pathway back into the squad. Mo'unga is set to start at fly-half in Tuesday's match against the Lions, a provincial side based in Johannesburg, and said he remains determined and ready for a possible Test return.