South Africa’s captain, Siya Kolisi, will not feature in the Springboks’ line‑up for the opening test against New Zealand at Ellis Park on Saturday. Coach Rassie Erasmus has opted to give the relatively inexperienced lock Paul de Villiers a place in the matchday 23, leaving Kolisi on the sidelines as he continues to recover from a hamstring strain suffered during the 17‑10 win over Argentina on August 8. The decision comes ahead of a four‑match series against the All Blacks, with the remaining three tests scheduled for Cape Town, Johannesburg and Baltimore, USA.
Erasmus explained that the coaching staff chose a cautious route with Kolisi’s rehabilitation, preferring to protect the captain’s long‑term fitness rather than risk a premature return. "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," Erasmus said. "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." Erasmus added that the Springboks possess a deep pool of talent and that selection will be handled on a week‑by‑week basis. "We have a solid group of players, and each one of them deserves their place in the squad, so we will approach team selection week by week," he noted.
The match will also see centre Damian de Allende reach a personal milestone, earning his 100th test cap for South Africa. De Allende becomes only the tenth Springbok in history to join the coveted century‑cap club, a testament to his durability and consistent performance over many seasons. In the backline, fly‑half Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu and lock Eben Etzebeth retain the starting roles they held in the Buenos Aires victory, while prop Ox Nche is recalled to the starting XV for the first time since the July Nations Championship win over England. South Africa have enjoyed a strong recent record against the All Blacks, winning five of their last six encounters, including a historic 43‑10 thrashing in Wellington last September.
Erasmus praised the New Zealand side, describing them as "a quality team and they're very well coached" and warning that the Springboks must be prepared for an "80‑minute grind". "They have a well‑rounded squad with physical forwards and an exciting backline, so we have to be sharp and accurate in our execution from the outset," Erasmus continued. "Many of the matches between the sides have come down to the wire, so it's important that we use the chances we create and ensure that our discipline is on point. It's going to be a big battle, but the entire squad is excited about the match and looking forward to it." The Springboks will line up as follows: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt‑Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu, 9 Grant Williams; 1 Ox Nche, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Wilco Louw, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Ruan Nortje, 6 Paul de Villiers, 7 Pieter‑Steph du Toit (c), 8 Jasper Wiese.
The bench will feature Jan‑Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Zachary Porthen, Cobus Wiese, Andre Esterhuizen, Marco van Staden, Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok. New Zealand will field a strong side anchored by captain Ardie Savea, with scrum‑half Cam Roigard and prolific wing Will Jordan making their first appearances of the tour. Full‑back Damian McKenzie returns after missing the warm‑up game against the Sharks due to an ankle injury.
Head coach Dave Rennie has blended seasoned campaigners with emerging talent, fielding 110‑cap veterans Ardie Savea and Codie Taylor alongside newcomers Anton Segner and Josh Moorby, who will face the Springboks for the first time. Rennie expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming contest: "After all the build‑up and anticipation, our whole touring squad is excited to get this first Test underway.
We have selected a balanced mix of big‑match, experienced players and younger players who have earned the right to play in this first Test. The first three franchise games have exposed our newer players to the way South African teams play and have been fantastic in helping us build combinations and develop the game we want to play." He also acknowledged the challenge of playing the world‑number‑one side on their home turf: "We know the Test series will be a huge step up. We're well aware of what the Springboks will bring to the contest and the pressure that will come to bear.
They are No 1 in the world, playing at their spiritual home in front of their passionate fans, so we will have to be at our very best on Saturday." New Zealand’s starting XV will be: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Josh Moorby, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Cam Roigard; 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Josh Lord, 5 Fabian Holland, 6 Tupou Vaa'i, 7 Luke Jacobsen, 8 Ardie Savea (c). The replacements include Asafo Aumua, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Anton Segner, Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Anton Leinert‑Brown and Leroy Carter. The clash promises a classic rivalry, with both coaches emphasizing the need for precision, discipline and mental toughness. South Africa will look to leverage their recent dominance over New Zealand, while the All Blacks will aim to re‑assert their supremacy on home soil.
Fans can catch every minute of the series live on Sky Sports, with streaming options available through the NOW platform for those who prefer contract‑free viewing.