South Africa’s captain, Siya Kolisi, will not be part of the matchday lineup for the opening Test against New Zealand at Ellis Park on Saturday. Head coach Rassie Erasmus opted to include the relatively untested lock Paul de Villiers instead, citing the need to protect Kolisi, who is still nursing a hamstring strain suffered during the Springboks’ 17‑10 win over Argentina on August 8.
The decision means Kolisi will sit out the first of a four‑match series that will see the Springboks travel to Cape Town, Johannesburg and finally Baltimore in the United States for the remaining Tests. Erasmus explained that the coaching staff preferred to give the young forward a chance to experience his inaugural Test against the All Blacks while adopting a cautious approach to Kolisi’s recovery. "Siya trained well with us this week and, although we could have named him, we felt it was in the team’s best interest to select Paul," Erasmus said.
"We have four Tests ahead of us, Paul has been in good form and we are excited to hand him his first Test appearance against New Zealand, while we manage Siya’s return prudently." Erasmus added that the Springboks possess a deep pool of talent and that selection will be handled on a week‑by‑week basis, ensuring every player who earns a place feels they have merit. This philosophy will be tested as centre Damian de Allende reaches a personal milestone – his 100th Test cap – making him the tenth South African player ever to join the century‑club.
In the starting XV, fly‑half Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu and lock Eben Etzebeth retain the positions they held in the Buenos Aires victory, while prop Ox Nche returns to the lineup for the first time since the July Nations Championship win over England. The Springboks 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 acknowledged the quality of the opposition, noting that the All Blacks are a well‑coached, physically imposing side with a dynamic backline.
"We are preparing for an 80‑minute grind," he said. "Their forwards are powerful, their backs are exciting, so we must be precise from the first whistle.
Discipline will be vital, as many of our past matches have been decided by narrow margins. The squad is eager and ready for the challenge." The Springboks’ starting lineup 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 includes Jan‑Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Zachary Porthen, Cobus Wiese, Andre Esterhuizen, Marco van Staden, Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok. For New Zealand, captain Ardie Savea will lead a backline featuring scrum‑half Cam Roigard and prolific wing Will Jordan, both making their first appearances of the summer tour. Full‑back Damian McKenzie returns after an ankle injury sustained in the warm‑up win over the Sharks in Durban.
Head coach Dave Rennie has blended seasoned campaigners with fresh talent, fielding 110‑cap veterans Savea and Codie Taylor alongside newcomers Anton Segner and Josh Moorby, who will be seeing South Africa for the first time. Rennie emphasized the balance of experience and youth in his squad: "After all the build‑up, the whole touring group is thrilled to kick off the series. We have selected a mix of big‑match veterans and younger players who have earned their spots. The early franchise games have given our newer men a taste of South African rugby, helping us forge combinations and develop the style we want to play.
We know the Test series will be a huge step up, and we respect what the Springboks will bring. They are world No.1, playing at home in front of passionate fans, so we must be at our absolute 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 are Asafo Aumua, George Bower, Fletcher Newell, Anton Segner, Peter Lakai, Kyle Preston, Anton Leinert‑Brown and Leroy Carter. The series promises a clash of contrasting styles: South Africa’s physically dominant forwards versus New Zealand’s fluid, high‑tempo attack.
Both coaches have highlighted the importance of discipline, execution and seizing opportunities, as past encounters have often been decided by small margins. With Kolisi sidelined as a precaution, the Springboks will rely on their depth and the fresh energy of players like Paul de Villiers to maintain their recent dominance over the All Blacks. Fans can follow every minute of the tour live on Sky Sports, with streaming available contract‑free via the NOW platform. The opening Test sets the tone for what is expected to be a fiercely contested series, and both nations will be eager to prove their supremacy on the global stage.