Siya Kolisi has been left out of the South Africa side to face New Zealand in the first Test in Johannesburg.

Springboks skipper Kolisi had been battling back from a hamstring injury ahead of the encounter at Ellis Park, and has been overlooked on the openside despite trainning this week.

Paul de Villiers is preferred in the back row as Pieter-Steph du Toit again captains Rassie Erasmus’s side.

Ox Nche is fit to start at loosehead prop, while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu gets the nod ahead of Handre Pollard and Manie Libbok at fly half.

Centre Damian de Allende earns his 100th cap in an experienced midfield with Jesse Kriel, while Andre Esterhuizen provides both backline and back row cover from the bench.

“Siya trained well with us this week, and although we could have selected him for this clash, we thought it would be best to select Paul (de Villiers) for this weekend’s game,” head coach Erasmus explained.

“We are playing four Tests against the All Blacks and Paul has been playing well, so we are excited to give him a chance this weekend in what will be his first Test match against New Zealand, while taking a precautionary approach to Siya’s return.”

Kolisi missed all three of the world champions’ Nations Championship fixtures in July with injury, before suffering a fresh hamstring issue in the game against Argentina earlier this month.

The meeting in Johannesburg is the first of four Tests between the Springboks and All Blacks that form the centrepiece of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour, which concludes with a match in Baltimore on 12 September.

South Africa XV to face New Zealand (Saturday 22 August, 4.10pm BST): 1 Ox Nche, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Wilco Louw; 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Ruan Nortje; 6 Paul de Villiers, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt.), 8 Jasper Wiese; 9 Grant Williams, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu; 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Jesse Kriel, 14 Cheslin Kolbe; 15 Damian Willemse.

Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gehard Steenekamp, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Marco van Staden; 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok.