South Africa’s captain, Siya Kolisi, will not feature in the Springboks’ line‑up for the first Test against New Zealand at Ellis Park on Saturday. Coach Rassie Erasmus has opted to hand the starting role to the relatively inexperienced lock Paul de Villiers, preferring to protect Kolisi, who is still managing a hamstring strain suffered during the 17‑10 win over Argentina on August 8.
The decision means Kolisi will sit out the opening match of a four‑Test series that will also take place in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Baltimore, United States. Erasmus explained that the coaching staff wanted to give Paul a chance to prove himself at the highest level while taking a cautious approach to Kolisi’s recovery.
"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 evaluated 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 mark a milestone for centre Damian de Allende, who will earn his 100th Test cap at Ellis Park, becoming only the tenth South African player to reach the century mark.
Among the players retaining their starting spots from the Buenos Aires victory are fly‑half Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu and lock Eben Etzebeth. Prop Ox Nche will also start, making his first appearance since the Nations Championship win over England in July.
South Africa have enjoyed a strong recent record against New Zealand, winning five of their last six encounters, including a historic 43‑10 rout in Wellington last September. Erasmus praised the All Blacks as a well‑coached, high‑quality side and warned 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," he said. "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’ starting XV will be: 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 backline anchored by captain Ardie Savea, scrum‑half Cam Roigard and prolific wing Will Jordan, all of whom will start the first Test. Full‑back Damian McKenzie returns after missing the warm‑up win over the Sharks with an ankle injury. Head coach Dave Rennie has blended seasoned campaigners with emerging talent, with 110‑cap veterans Ardie Savea and Codie Taylor meeting the Springboks for the 18th and 17th times respectively, while newcomers Anton Segner and Josh Moorby will make their debut against South Africa.
Rennie expressed confidence in his squad’s preparation, noting that the early franchise games have helped the younger players adapt to the physical style of South African rugby. "After all the build‑up and anticipation, our whole touring squad is excited to get this first Test underway," he said.
"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.
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." The All Blacks’ starting lineup 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). Their replacements will include Asafo Aumua, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Anton Segner, Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Anton Leinert‑Brown and Leroy Carter. Both teams will be looking to start the series strongly, with South Africa hoping to maintain their recent dominance and New Zealand eager to re‑assert their position as the world’s top side.
The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with streaming options available via NOW for viewers who prefer a contract‑free experience.