Moorby scored the All Blacks' second try of five as the Springboks were beaten 33-16 at Ellis Park last Saturday in the opener to the four-Test series.
But he has been dropped to the reserves in a straight swap among three changes on Thursday to the starting 15.
Loosehead prop George Bower and lock Tupou Vaa'i were the enforced changes for Ethan de Groot and Josh Lord, who collided heads in a double tackle and are not available for the second Test on Saturday at Cape Town Stadium.
Bower makes a first Test start since 2022 after an impactful appearance off the bench last week, helping shore up a scrum that was getting shoved around by South Africa.
Vaa'i vacated the blindside flank which was filled by Simon Parker.
Added to the reserves were prop Xavier Numia and lock Patrick Tuipulotu.
"We are aware of the potential bounce-back," All Blacks coach Dave Rennie told reporters on Thursday.
"They (South Africa) will be bitterly disappointed with last weekend. There has been a lot of talk around how they bounced back last year and we have touched on it (as a team).
"We have also talked a lot about us being better than we were last weekend. Both teams can be a lot better. I would take a one-point win."
South Africa named their team on Monday and restored captain Siya Kolisi after a hamstring injury among four changes to the run-on side.
Another win by the All Blacks on Saturday would ensure them of at least a share of the series spoils.
ALL BLACKS SQUAD FOR SECOND TEST:
Damian McKenzie, Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Leroy Carter, Ruben Love, Cam Roigard; Ardie Savea (capt), Luke Jacobson, Simon Paker, Tupou Vaa'i, Fabian Holland, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, George Bower. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Fletcher Newell, Patrick Tuipulotu, Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Anton Lienert-Brown, Josh Moorby.
With Reuters.