JOHANNESBURG. – The Springbok team to face All Blacks in the opening Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry has been named, with Damian de Allende set to become the 10th player in history to earn 100 Test caps for South Africa.
Read more: Springboks vs All Blacks: Erasmus squad steps up RGR preparations
The teams meet at 10bet Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday. Kick-off is at 17:10 and the match will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
De Allende joins the Springbok century club
De Allende made his international debut against Argentina in 2014 and runs out on 99 caps. Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said the timing of the milestone made it more significant.
“We are all very excited for Damian, and to achieve this milestone in this series makes it even more special,” said Erasmus.
“He’s a great team man, and servant to the game, so we hope we can make it a memorable day for him. That said, his focus all week has only been on this match, and he will certainly not let the occasion shadow what he has to do on the field.”
Captain Pieter-Steph du Toit runs out in his 99th Test and needs one more appearance to reach his own century. Eben Etzebeth extends his record as the most capped Springbok of all time to 143.
Springbok team to face All Blacks blends continuity and rotation
The side shows a mix of continuity from the Test against Argentina and players who remained behind in South Africa. Most of the starting team, including Du Toit, began their preparations in Johannesburg last week while the rest of the squad travelled to Buenos Aires.
The only two players who retain their places in the starting XV from the Argentina Test, which the Boks won 17-10, are Etzebeth at lock and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at flyhalf. A further seven players from that match have been named on the bench.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu joins Grant Williams at halfback. Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Damian Willemse form the back trio, with De Allende and Jesse Kriel at centre. Ox Nche returns from injury to pack down with Wilco Louw and Malcolm Marx, Etzebeth reunites with Ruan Nortje in the engine room, and Paul de Villiers, Du Toit and Jasper Wiese make up the loose trio.
“The All Blacks are a quality team, and we selected combinations we think would be best suited for the challenge this weekend,” said Erasmus.
“The squad is well balanced with players who remained in South Africa to train for this series and some of the players who featured against Argentina.”
Erasmus explains the Siya Kolisi omission
“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 (de Villiers) for this weekend’s game,” said Erasmus.
“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 expects a tight contest. “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,” he said.
Springbok team to face All Blacks in full
Starting XV
15 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers), 52 caps
14 Cheslin Kolbe (DHL Stormers), 50 caps
13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), 90 caps
12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), 99 caps
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Mitsubishi Dynaboars), 32 caps
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), 20 caps
9 Grant Williams (Kobe Steelers), 30 caps
8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks), 46 caps
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain, Toyota Verblitz), 98 caps
6 Paul de Villiers (DHL Stormers), 3 caps
5 Ruan Nortje (Kubota Spears), 20 caps
4 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), 142 caps
3 Wilco Louw (DHL Stormers), 31 caps
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), 89 caps
1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), 48 caps
Replacements
16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), 13 caps
17 Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), 19 caps
18 Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers), 6 caps
19 Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls), 5 caps
20 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), 31 caps
21 Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), 36 caps
22 Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), 53 caps
23 Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), 30 caps
Stats and facts
Springbok record against New Zealand: played 110, won 43, lost 63, drawn 4. Points for 1 850, points against 2 269. Tries scored 181, tries conceded 248. Win rate 39%.
- Ox Nche features in his 49th Test, one short of 50. Jasper Wiese needs three more caps to reach 50.
- Manie Libbok needs three points to reach 150 international points.
- The series marks the first time since 1996 that the All Blacks have embarked on a traditional tour to South Africa.
- The last meeting in Johannesburg was in the 2024 Castle Lager Rugby Championship, won 31-27 by the Boks.
- The Springboks have won five of the last six matches between the teams dating back to August 2023, including the 2023 Rugby World Cup final in France.
- Total caps in the starting line-up: 850, made up of 373 in the backline and 477 among the forwards. The bench carries a further 193 caps.
- Average caps per player: backline 53, forwards 60, bench 24.
* Press release.
