Rassie Erasmus has named the Springboks squad to play the Springboks on 29 August in Cape Town. Even though he named a vry solid team, questions remain hanging as to whether captain Siya Kolisi would be fit enough to play.
SPRINGBOKS SQUAD TO PLAY AGAINST THE ALL BLACKS
Starting XV
15 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 53 caps, 76 pts (8t, 9c, 4p, 2dg)
14 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Mitsubishi Dynaboars) – 33 caps, 125 pts (25t)
13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 91 caps, 115 pts (23t)
12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 100 caps, 55 pts (11t)
11 Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 10 caps, 10 pts (2t)
10 Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls) – 87 caps, 832 pts (8t, 130 c, 175 p, 5dg)
9 Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers) – 54 caps, 100 pts (20t)
8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 46 caps, 20 pts (4t)
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain, Toyota Verblitz) – 99 caps, 70 pts (14t)
6 Siya Kolisi (DHL Stormers) – 104 caps, 70 pts (14t) / Paul de Villiers (DHL Stormers) – 4 cap, 5 pts (1t)
5 Ruan Nortje (Kubota Spears) – 21 caps, 5 pts (1t)
4 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 143 caps, 45 pts (9t)
3 Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers) – 32 caps, 10 pts (2t)
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 90 caps, 135 pts (27t)
1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 49 caps, 0 pts
Replacements:
16 Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers) – 13 caps, 10 pts (2t)
17 Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 20 caps, 10 pts (2t)
18 Thomas du Toit (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 34 caps, 10 pts (2t)
19 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 74 caps, 25 pts (5t)
20 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 32 caps, 30 pts (6t)
21 Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls) – 3 caps, 5 pts (1t)
22 Morne van den Berg (10bet Lions) – 7 caps, 25 pts (5t)
23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 21 caps, 177 pts (9t, 45c, 14p)
RASSIE ERASMUS SAYS SIYA KOLISI WILL PLAY AGAINST THE ALL BLACKS
Yes, Siya Kolisi will play against the All Blacks in Cape Town on Saturday. Rassie Erasmus has now confirmed the Springbok captain is fully fit.
Kolisi was initially bracketed with Paul de Villiers at No.6. Erasmus wanted the veteran flanker to prove his fitness before confirming the selection. That decision created uncertainty around the Springboks captaincy.
However, Kolisi completed full training without discomfort. Erasmus subsequently confirmed that Kolisi would start and captain South Africa.
His return comes at a crucial moment for the Springboks. New Zealand stunned South Africa 33-16 in the opening Test at Ellis Park. The defeat also exposed several breakdown issues for the hosts.
Erasmus believes Kolisi can provide a major boost in that area. His breakdown work could help South Africa regain momentum in Cape Town.
Therefore, Paul de Villiers drops out of the matchday squad. Kolisi will wear No.6 and captain the Springboks against New Zealand.