Morne van den Berg gets his reward for last weekend's impact off the bench, earning a starting berth at scrum-half for Saturday's Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series finale against the All Blacks in Baltimore — his sixth Test start in the green and gold and his first since the November victory over Wales.
Cobus Reinach drops to the bench as one of only two changes to the starting XV that won in Soweto. The other is enforced: Damian Willemse comes in for the injured Cheslin Kolbe.
Rassie Erasmus was candid about Van den Berg's path back into contention. "After his last injury, we thought it was going to be tough for him to get back into the mix, but he did his rehab really well and is back to full fitness. Last week, when he got his opportunity, he did really well and we think he deserves a start."
Erasmus stressed the selection is on merit, not sentiment. Van den Berg has had to navigate a queue that includes Faf de Klerk, Reinach and Grant Williams, and has also lost time to injury. His performance in Soweto, however, was enough to move him ahead of Reinach for the decider.
"We feel that the team is well settled and all the players delivered in their respective roles in the last two matches," Erasmus said, explaining the otherwise unchanged selection. "We believe selecting the same matchday squad, and naming Damian back in his regular position, makes sense for the closing match of the series. These players also know exactly what to expect from a very determined All Blacks team, who will give everything to draw the series this weekend."