Five standout selection changes for Springboks' clash against All Blacks in Wellington

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has made a raft of changes to the team for this weekend's second Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks in Wellington.

Independent Media’s John Goliath dissects five of those selections and what they could bring to the Boks’ cause.

Canan Moodie’s move to outside centre …

Moodie had a dream first Test in the No 13 jersey against the same All Blacks side in the Twickenham warm-up ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. In that match, he made some excellent defensive reads and scored a superb individual try — only for it to be chalked off by the TMO.

Moodie hasn’t quite hit his stride on the wing this year and also struggled defensively against the All Blacks out wide during last year’s clash in Cape Town. But outside centre appears to be his preferred position, where he’ll have more chances to get his hands on the ball. He is a wonderful strike-runner and hopefully the playmakers on his inside can give him the space to perform.

Ethan Hooker makes first Bok start on the wing …

At just 22, Hooker is a player who’s generated a great deal of excitement. The Sharks man is a versatile back who combines a strong physical presence with deft handling, making him a genuine threat in attack. His abilities to read the game, execute under pressure, and deliver in big moments were evident throughout the last United Rugby Championship campaign.

Defensively, Hooker also excels under the high ball and seems a calm, composed character. He’ll likely be targeted with a barrage of high kicks in the typically blustery Wellington conditions — and it’ll be a true test of mettle to see how he handles the pressure.

Damian Willemse at inside centre could get the Bok attack cooking …

While Willemse remains a powerful physical presence, he’s a different type of No 12 to what the Boks have used this year. Damian de Allende and Andre Esterhuizen are out-and-out battering rams — direct runners who thrive on brute force and gainline success.

Willemse, however, is a natural playmaker, having developed his game at flyhalf and fullback. He brings extra creativity to midfield, with his quick feet, strong carrying, and ability to offload in contact all assets that could unlock defences. His inclusion also offers the Boks an additional kicking option from inside centre, while his combination with Stormers teammate Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu could be crucial to spark the Bok attack.

Jasper Wiese back at No 8 … but can he stay out of trouble?

Jasper Wiese has had his fair share of time off through suspensions over the past 18 months, so he should be fresh and raring to go against the All Blacks this weekend. The Boks have missed his thunderous carries and his ability to dominate collisions.

But it’s his power at the breakdown that’s perhaps most needed in Wellington. The Springboks have been second best in that department all season — even Italy caused problems at the ruck in Pretoria back in July. Hopefully, Wiese can keep his discipline … and avoid another headbutt in HD.

Lood de Jager must jumpstart Bok lineout …

So much of the Springboks’ strategy hinges on their lineout. When it fails, their gameplan tends to fall apart — as seen at Ellis Park against the Wallabies and again last Saturday at Eden Park.

De Jager, who typically calls the shots in the middle of the lineout, comes in for veteran Eben Etzebeth at No 4, with Rassie Erasmus hoping he’ll fix their set-piece struggles alongside Ruan Nortje. But the Boks won’t lose much physicality. De Jager is mobile, carries strongly, and is relentless at the breakdown. But it's at lineout time where he must perform on Saturday.