Springboks names squad to face All Blacks this Saturday with return of Etzebeth to captain side

The Springboks has named a formidable squad to face the All Blacks this Saturday in Auckland in their Rugby Championship top-of-the-table clash with fiery lock Eben Etzebeth returning from a shoulder injury and captaining the side.

The towering second-rower’s inclusion is one of a raft of expected changes for the match at Mt Smart Stadium.

With regular captain Siya Kolisi still sidelined with a knee injury, Etzebeth’s return from a shoulder injury, suffered while playing for the Sharks against Munster in April, is a significant boost for the Boks, who thrashed Australia 43-12 in Pretoria last weekend.

Another notable inclusion into the starting Springboks 15 side is nippy winger Cheslin Kolbe.

The Springboks startng xv side to face the All Blacks on Saturday are:

Willie le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Damian Willemse, Faf de Klerk, Jasper Wiese, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth (capt), Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff.

The reserves are:

Malcolm Marx, Thomas du Toit, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Pieter Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen, Grant Williams, Manie Libbok.

The Springboks will play the All Blacks at 7.05pm.

In another Rugby Championship match, the Wallabies will play Argentina at 9.45pm Saturday.