Lukhanyo Am has been recalled to start for the Springboks in the SARugbymag.co.za team named to tackle the All Blacks in Cape Town on Saturday.

Rassie Erasmus is set to announce the Springbok matchday-23 for the Cape Town Test match on Thursday morning, having delayed the team announcement from Tuesday.

SA Rugby mag’s Dylan Jack and Zelím Nel have backed the recall of Am to inside centre, with Damian de Allende rested after starting in the 31-27 comeback win at Ellis Park.

Siya Kolisi is questionable for Saturday’s clash after suffering a cheekbone injury in a heavy collision during the victory in Johannesburg, and is replaced by Marco van Staden, while Eben Etzebeth starts after playing off the bench, with Pieter-Steph du Toit shifting to blindside flank in the changes to the pack.

Both Nel and Jack expect the experienced Willie le Roux to anchor the backfield at fullback. However, their choices for the wings differ slightly. Nel opts for Aphelele Fassi on the right wing and Cheslin Kolbe on the left, while Jack shifts Kolbe to the right and brings in the tried-and-tested Makazole Mapimpi on the left.

Fit-again Steven Kitshoff is recalled to both benches, but Jack has backed a return to the World Cup-winning 7-1 split, featuring Salmaan Moerat, while Grant Williams is the only backline player among the substitutes.

Nel’s Bok squad – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Aphelele Fassi, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth (c), 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Elrigh Louw, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Jack’s Bok squad – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi (c), 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Elrigh Louw, 22 Kwagga Smith, 23 Grant Williams.

Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images

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Src: sarugbymag.co.za