Prediction: How the Springboks will line up against All Blacks

Rassie Erasmus will wait until later in the week before revealing the Springbok matchday 23 for this Saturday’s highly-anticipated first Test against the All Blacks at Ellis Park.

With Siya Kolisi and Ox Nche named on Monday as doubtful due to injuries, it’s unlikely they will feature against New Zealand as the Springbok coaches have a policy that all players must be fit at the start of the week in order to be considered for selection.

It means that Erasmus and his coaches have a big call to make at openside flank, as well as when it comes to the leadership of the team.

“Making the team announcement on Thursday is a sign of respect for New Zealand and knowing how tough this one is going to be,” Erasmus said. “The less time they have to prepare for our team, the better. It’s not an arrogant thing. It’s a respect thing.”

Kick off on Saturday is at 17:10.

HERE IS HOW THE SPRINGBOKS COULD LINE UP AGAINST THE ALL BLACKS

SPRINGBOKS (probable) – 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (c), 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Thomas du Toit.

Subs: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

In this selection, we expect in-form Paul de Villiers to continue to stand in for Kolisi on the flank, while Pieter-Steph du Toit should retain the captaincy duties.

Manie Libbok should be expected to start at flyhalf, but this could mean that Cheslin Kolbe will once again take on the goal-kicking duties.

Ruan Nortje is likely to crack the nod at No 5 lock ahead of Lood de Jager and Franco Mostert, who are short on game-time, while it will be interesting to see if Thomas du Toit could be deployed at loosehead prop in the absence of Nche.

Wider Bok squad:

Props: Thomas du Toit (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers), Carlu Sadie (Bordeaux Begles), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Fidelity Securedrive Lions).

Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears).

Locks: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Kubota Spears).

Loose forwards: Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon (both DHL Stormers), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).

Utility forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese (all Vodacom Bulls), Deon Fourie (Stormers).

Scrumhalves: Herschel Jantjies (Bayonne), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Morne van den Berg (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Grant Williams (Kobe Steelers).

Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls).

Centres: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles).

Outside and utility backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Mitsubishi Dynaboars), Aphelele Fassi (Toshiba), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Quan Horn (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Cheslin Kolbe (DHL Stormers), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).