South Africa’s captain, Siya Kolisi, will not be part of the Springboks’ lineup for the opening Test against New Zealand at Ellis Park on Saturday. Coach Rassie Erasmus has opted to hand the match‑day honour to the relatively untested lock Paul de Villiers, preferring to give Kolisi additional time to recover from the hamstring strain he suffered during the 17‑10 win over Argentina on August 8. The decision comes as the two nations prepare for a four‑match series, with the remaining Tests slated for Cape Town, Johannesburg and Baltimore in the United States.
Erasmus explained that the coaching staff decided to err on the side of caution with Kolisi, even though the captain was fit enough to train during the week. "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 Springbok roster is deep and competitive, and that selection will be reviewed 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.
One of the marquee moments for the home side will be centre Damian de Allende reaching his 100th Test cap at Ellis Park, making him the tenth South African player ever to hit the century mark. The milestone underscores the experience that still lines the Springboks’ starting XV, even as younger talent is given opportunities.
The back‑line will feature the ever‑dynamic wing Cheslin Kolbe, full‑back Damian Willemse, and the emerging fly‑half Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu, who will start alongside veteran lock Eben Etzebeth and prop Ox Nche, the latter returning to the starting lineup for the first time since the July Nations Championship win over England. South Africa enters the series on the back of a strong recent record against New Zealand, having won five of their last six encounters, including a historic 43‑10 demolition in Wellington last September.
Erasmus praised the All Blacks as a “quality team” with a well‑balanced mix of powerful forwards and an exciting back‑line. "They are a quality team and they're very well coached, so we are preparing for an 80‑minute grind," he said. "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. 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 include Jan‑Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Zachary Porthen, Cobus Wiese, Andre Esterhuizen, Marco van Staden, Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok.
Across the Tasman Sea, New Zealand will field a blend of seasoned campaigners and fresh faces. Captain Ardie Savea will lead the All Blacks, with scrum‑half Cam Roigard and prolific wing Will Jordan also starting. Full‑back Damian McKenzie returns after missing the warm‑up match against the Sharks due to an ankle injury. Veteran hooker Codie Taylor and flanker Sam Cane will bring additional experience, while newcomers Anton Segner and Josh Moorby will get their first taste of a South African Test.
All Black head coach Dave Rennie spoke about the balance in his squad: "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. 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). Their replacements will feature Asafo Aumua, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Anton Segner, Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Anton Leinert‑Brown and Leroy Carter.
The clash promises a tactical battle between two of the world’s top rugby nations, with the Springboks hoping to capitalize on home‑field advantage and the All Blacks eager to assert their dominance early in the series. Both coaches stress the importance of discipline, precision and seizing opportunities, suggesting a tightly contested encounter that could set the tone for the remaining three Tests. Fans can follow every minute of the series live on Sky Sports, with the option to stream the action contract‑free via the NOW platform.