Springboks

After taking an early lead through Bryan Habana in Christchurch, the Springboks handed back the initiative immediately, Elton Jantjies dropping the kick-off which led to Israel Dagg's try.

The All Blacks never looked back from there, running in five more tries in a resounding 41-13 triumph, with their Rugby Championship title confirmed following Australia's 36-20 win over Argentina in Perth.

De Jongh will pair up with Jesse Kriel in the centres, starting for the first time in the Rugby Championship, and in his first run-on berth since returning from a stint with the South African Sevens team in Rio.

Springboks coach Allister Coetzee said the pairing had shown enough off the pine against Argentina to earn spots in the starting team.

“Looking at the impact that Juan and Jesse made when they came off the bench in Nelspruit and Salta, then I think now is the right time to give them a starting opportunity,” he said.

RNZ reports Mvovo replaced Ruan Combrink after he was ruled out for six weeks having fractured his fibula in the 26-24 loss to Argentina in Salta at the weekend.

Halfback Francois Hougaard, named in the squad for the Southern Hemisphere championship but not considered for the two matches against Argentina due to a knee injury, has also rejoined the squad.

First-five Elton Jantjies left the field early in the second half in Salta with a bruised thigh muscle but has been cleared to tour, though he remains a doubt for the test against Australia in Brisbane on September 10th.

The 33-year-old, voted world player of the year in 2004, is joining the English Premiership side after his Stormers career ended in a disappointing thrashing by the Chiefs in the Super Rugby quarterfinals.

The Boks went down late in the game against New Zealand on Sunday after dominating much of the game at Ellis Park. It was a similar scenario last week in Brisbane when Wallaby centre Tevita Kuridrani scored after fulltime.

On that occasion, Kuridrani's touchdown just made it over the line, while on Sunday the Boks were denied a try by the TMO when it was adjudged Lood de Jager had failed to plant the ball in the desired area.

"It's been millimetres in both games. It went against us in Australia, and it went against us today," said Meyer after Sunday's 20-27 defeat.