Rassie rings changes as Springboks seek redemption

WHILE Rassie Erasmus says he has not pushed the panic button in picking a brand new backline to play the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday, some of his selections were performance-related.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

The Boks lost 24-17 in Auckland last week, and for the return Test, only Cheslin Kolbe remains in his position, although Canan Moodie also continues, shifting from left wing to outside centre.

Aphelele Fassi replaces Willie le Roux in a selection that appears form-related; Ethan Hooker comes in on the wing for Moodie; the Old Firm centre pairing of Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende makes way for Damian Willemse and Moodie; and in the halfbacks, Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu take over from Grant Williams and Handré Pollard.

Erasmus was pressed on which of those changes were triggered by disappointing performances at Eden Park and which had been pre-planned, regardless of the result.