Wellington - South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has kept faith with the side that comprehensively beat Australia last week by naming an unchanged side to face New Zealand in Saturday's Rugby Championship clash in Auckland.
The Springboks recorded their first ever win at Lang Park in Brisbane with a 38-12 victory over the Wallabies last Saturday and are looking to win their first game against the All Blacks at Eden Park since 1937.
Meyer's forwards smashed the Wallabies into submission last week with their massive back row of Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts and Francois Louw particularly destructive, while locks Eben Etzebeth and Flip van der Merwe were also prominent.
“We had a good win last weekend, but that is in the past now,” said Meyer. “Playing the All Blacks in New Zealand is the ultimate challenge in rugby and one were very excited about facing.”
The Springboks lead the Rugby Championship on 14 points, one ahead of the All Blacks, and the winner of the game at Eden Park could determine who goes on to claim the southern hemisphere title next month.
South Africa: 15-Zane Kirchner, 14-Willie le Roux, 13-JJ Engelbrecht, 12-Jean de Villiers (captain), 11-Bryan Habana, 10-Morne Steyn, 9-Ruan Pienaar, 8-Duane Vermeulen, 7-Willem Alberts, 6-Francois Louw, 5-Flip van der Merwe, 4-Eben Etzebeth, 3-Jannie du Plessis, 2-Bismarck du Plessis, 1-Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16-Adriaan Strauss, 17-Gurthro Steenkamp, 18-Coenie Oosthuizen, 19-Juandre Kruger, 20-Siya Kolisi, 21-Jano Vermaak, 22-Pat Lambie, 23-Jan Serfontein. - Reuters