Springboks make nine changes for All Blacks match

The Springboks have made nine changes to their 23-member squad that will host the All Blacks in round 3 of the Rugby Championship this week.

Coach Rassie Erasmus has named backrower Pieter-Steph du Toit at lock in place of injured Eben Etzebeth.

Du Toit will combine in the second row with Ruan Nortje for the first of two tests between the teams after Etzebeth failed a fitness test on an injured knee.

South Africa leads with two wins, with New Zealand and Argentina having a win each and Australia yet to record one.

Du Toit's move to the second row also has been forced by injuries to locks R G Snyman, Franco Mostert, Jean Kleyn, Salmaan Moerat and Lood de Jager.

Jasper Wiese returns to the back row after a six-week suspension, and Aphelele Fassi takes over from Willie le Roux at fullback.

The South Africa line-up includes 12 players, who featured in last year's Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand, which the Springboks won by a point.

The Springboks will host the All Blacks at 3am, while the Wallabies will face Argentina at 10am.

Both matches will be played this Sunday.

South Africa line-up (15-1): Aphelele Fassi; Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cobus Reinach; Jasper Wiese, Ben-Jason Dixon, Siya Kolisi (capt); Ruan Nortje, Pieter-Steph du Toit; Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche

Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Marco van Staden, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Grant Williams, Handre Pollard

[Source: rugby.com.au]