Reinach hits 50 in settled Bok squad to face Wales

Springbok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach will earn his 50^th Test cap when he takes the field against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday in a settled team named by national coach Rassie Erasmus.

The starting XV for the final match of the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour – which kicks off at 17h10 (SA time) and will be broadcast live on SuperSport – feature nine changes from the team that defeated Ireland 24-13 in Dublin last week.

Several players have returned to their clubs and provincial unions, as the match falls outside the international window, which required Erasmus to make eight personnel changes and one positional switch to his run-on team, while his bench has a new look to it, with three players who played last week being named among the replacements.

With World Rugby Men’s 15 Player of the Year Malcolm Marx, Thomas du Toit, Boan Venter, Lood de Jager, RG Snyman, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Grant Williams, Handre Pollard, Manie Libbok, Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe, and Edwill van der Merwe out of contention for selection, Erasmus drafted several key “Bomb Squad” members into the starting team, alongside seven players who started in Dublin.

The players who retained their places in the starting lineup are Ruan Nortje (lock), captain Siya Kolisi (flanker), Jasper Wiese (No 8), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (flyhalf), Canan Moodie (wing), Damian de Allende (centre), and Damian Willemse (fullback).

Erasmus named the strong front row combination of hooker Johan Grobbelaar and props Wilco Louw and Gerhard Steenekamp – who will start a Test for the first time – with Jean Kleyn and Nortje taking charge of the engine room, while the loose trio of Kolisi, Franco Mostert, and Wiese will complete a powerful forward pack.

In the backline, Morne van den Berg and Feinberg-Mngomezulu will dictate play with at halfback, while hybrid Andre Esterhuizen will man the midfield with De Allende, Moodie and Ethan Hooker will start on the wings, and Willemse retains the No 15 jersey.

Erasmus opted for a seven-one split in favour of the forwards on the bench, with the replacement front row of hooker Bongi Mbonambi and props Zachary Porthen and Asenathi Ntlabakanye, while Eben Etzebeth will provide lock cover, and utility forwards Marco van Staden, Ben-Jason Dixon, and Kwagga Smith covering loose forward and lock. Reinach is the only specialist backline player named on the bench.

“We knew from the outset that we would lose players for this match due to their club commitments, and we are pleased with the quality of the team we’ve selected,” said Erasmus.

“We’ve been rotating our players throughout the year, and this group has been together for close to five weeks, so many of these combinations are fully settled, while others, such as Zachary and Asenathi, have shown what they are capable of this season, and we are excited that they will receive another chance to play.

“I’d like to thank the provincial unions and clubs who released these players to represent the country this weekend, so we could field a strong side capable of finishing off our November tour on a high note.”

Erasmus added: “We’ve used a total of 49 players in Test matches this season, which is a testament to the depth we have been developing with an eye on the 2027 Rugby World Cup.”

Erasmus was delighted to see Reinach, who made his Test debut in 2014, reach the significant milestone of playing 50 Tests: “Cobus is a true team man and he’s been a stand-out player for us this season and over the years, so we are delighted to see him earn this achievement.

“He’s patiently waited for his chances and grabbed every opportunity with both hands, so to see him achieve this at 35 years old makes it an even more remarkable feat.”

Commenting on the decision to opt for a seven-one split on the bench for the match, Erasmus said: “The composition of the bench was a combination of the availability of players we had for this match, but also given how well our pack has performed this season, and we believe it will be a key area of the match on Saturday.”

Erasmus expected Wales to present a stern challenge, despite also losing several players to club duty and said: “Both teams were in a similar situation with regards to the availability of players, but they have a balanced squad with a few seasoned players and several younger guys who will be desperate to make a statement.

“So, we are expecting them to come out firing and to throw everything at us. This is also the last match of the year for both teams, so there’s no doubt they’ll give everything to finish their season on a high note and try to improve their world ranking with the RWC draw coming up next week.”

Springbok team to face Wales in Cardiff:

15 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 48 caps, 71 pts (7t, 9c, 4p, 2dg)

14 Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 7 caps, 5 pts (1t)

13 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 96 caps, 55 pts (11t)

12 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 28 caps, 20 pts (4t)

11 Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 21 caps, 40 pts (8t)

10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 18 caps, 144 pts (7t, 35c, 13p)

9 Morne van den Berg (Lions) – 5 caps, 20 pts (4t)

8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 42 caps, 10 pts (2t)

7 Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 83 caps, 20 pts (4t)

6 Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 102 caps, 70 pts (14t)

5 Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 17 caps, 0 pts

4 Jean Kleyn (Munster) – 8 caps, 0 pts

3 Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 28 caps, 5 pts (1t)

2 Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls) – 7 caps, 0 pts

1 Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 15 caps, 5 pts (1t)

Replacements:

16 Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 81 caps, 70 pts (14t)

17 Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers) – 2 caps, 0 pts

18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions) – 2 caps, 0 pts

19 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 140 caps, 35 pts (7t)

20 Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 32 caps, 20 pts (4t)

21 Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers) – 6 caps, 5 pts (1t)

22 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 62 caps, 55 pts (11t)

23 Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers) – 49 caps, 95 pts (19t)

Stats and facts:

Springbok record against Wales:

Played 43; Won 35; Lost 7; Drawn 1; Points for: 1 157; Points against; 683; Tries scored: 136; Tries conceded: 57; Highest score: 96-13; Biggest win: 83 points; Win %: 81,4%

Miscellaneous:

• Cobus Reinach will become the second player on the team’s November tour to strike 50 Test caps, following RG Snyman’s 50^th against Ireland last week.
• Reinach requires only five more Test points to reach 100 in the green and gold.
• Eben Etzebeth will extend his Springbok record as the most capped player to 141 caps if he takes the field off the replacements bench.
• This will mark Damian Willemse’s 49^th Test match, leaving him only one game short of joining the select group of players to earn 50 Test caps, while Damian de Allende will require only two more Test appearances after this weekend to join the exclusive group of players to reach the 100 Test mark.
• The Springboks have lost only five of their 24 matches away from home against Wales dating back to 1994, with their last defeat in Cardiff being in 2018.
• This match will mark the first time the Springboks face Wales since the 2024 November tour – a match South Africa won 45-12.
• Should the Springboks win the match, it will mark the second season in a row that they complete a clean sweep of victories on their traditional end-of-the-year tour.
• The most Test matches the Springboks have won in a season is 14, meaning a victory this weekend will see them register 12 victories in 14 Tests – the second highest number of Tests won in a season.
• The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 525.
• There are223 caps in the backline, with 302 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further374 caps.
• The average caps per player in the backline is32, the forwards 38, while the players on the bench average 47.

Towering lock RG Snyman will join the select group of players to earn 50 Test caps for South Africa when the Springboks run out at the Aviva Stadium against Ireland on Saturday, in a matchday squad that reflects only two personnel changes to the team that defeated France 32-17 two weeks ago.

With most of the players being rested last week against Italy to ensure that Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus could field a fresh team to match the hosts’ energy, he reverted to his tried and tested combinations for their clash against Ireland, who they last defeated on home soil in 2012.

Snyman will become the third squad member to achieve a significant milestone on the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour, following Siya Kolisi and Erasmus sharing the special occasion of earning their 100^th Test caps as a player and 50^th as the head coach against France.

The two personnel changes to Erasmus’ squad see Ruan Nortje being promoted from the replacements bench to the starting lineup in place of Lood de Jager, while Kwagga Smith returns to the team on the bench in his place.

The only other change to the squad is in the backline, where Canan Moodie switches from centre against Italy to wing to fill the void left by Kurt-Lee Arendse, who has returned to South Africa after suffering a concussion last week.

De Jager and fellow lock Franco Mostert were not considered for selection due to their disciplinary appeals and hearings this week to avoid the outcomes of those decisions impacting on the team’s preparations for the match.

Cheslin Kolbe (wing) and Cobus Reinach (scrumhalf) will both feature in their 49^th Test matches, leaving them only one game short of joining Snyman and several other teammates on 50 caps.

Props Boan Venter and Thomas du Toit will form the front row with hooker Malcolm Marx; Eben Etzebeth and Nortje will start at lock; with Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Jasper Wiese completing a powerful forward pack.

In the backline, Reinach will reunite with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at halfback, with Kolbe and Moodie on the wings, Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel pairing up in the midfield, and Damian Willemse at fullback.

Erasmus’ bench includes the back-up front row of Johan Grobelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp, and Wilco Louw, while Snyman will provide cover at lock, Smith at loose forward, hybrid Esterhuizen able to cover flanker and centre, and two specialist backs in Grant Williams and Manie Libbok.

“The majority of this team were rested last week to ensure that they recover from the physically taxing match against France, and it was always our plan to name an experienced outfit against Ireland,” said Erasmus.

“Most of these players have faced Ireland in Dublin, as well as in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and Castle Lager Incoming Series, so they understand the magnitude of this challenge and what to expect from the hosts. So, we believe this is the right group of players for this match.”

The Bok coach was full of praise for Snyman, who will mark this special occasion in the same city in which he plies his trade for Leinster, and said: “We are thrilled for RG and we’ll do everything we can to hopefully make this a special occasion for him. He’s a great player and team man, and had it not been for injuries along the way, he would have probably earned 50 caps a while ago. He deserves this achievement, and it speaks volumes about the quality of the player he is.”

Looking at the match, Erasmus said they are expecting a physical and testing encounter.

“Ireland have been among the top-ranked teams in the last few years, and they are a force to be reckoned with at home,” he said.

“They have a good balance of experienced and exciting young players in their squad, and they pose threats up-front and with their talented backs, so it’s going to require a massive effort to beat them.

“This group of players have never won a match in Ireland before, so we know how tough it’s going to be to win here, and that will certainly motivate us. It will take a colossal effort, but we are excited about the challenge, and we know that we have to be razor sharp in all departments to get the desired result.”

The match kicks off at 19h40 (SA time) and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Springbok team to face Ireland in Dublin:

15 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 47 caps, 66 pts (6t, 9c, 4p, 2dg)

14 Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 20 caps, 40 pts (8t)

13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 86 caps, 100 pts (20t)

12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 95 caps, 55 pts (11t)

11 Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath) – 48 caps, 126 pts (21t, 3c, 5p)

10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 17 caps, 137 pts (6t, 34c, 13p)

9 Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers) – 48 caps, 90 pts (18t)

8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 41 caps, 10 pts (2t)

7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 94 caps, 70 pts (14t)

6 Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 101 caps, 70 pts (14t)

5 Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 16 caps, 0 pts

4 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 139 caps, 35 pts (7t)

3 Thomas du Toit (Bath) – 31 caps, 5 pts (1t)

2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 86 caps, 135 pts (27t)

1 Boan Venter (Edinburgh) – 7 caps, 5 pts (1t)

Replacements:

16 Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls) – 6 caps, 0 pts

17 Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 14 caps, 5 pts (1t)

18 Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 27 caps, 5 pts (1t)

19 RG Snyman (Leinster) – 49 caps, 15 points (3t)

20 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 61 caps, 55 pts (11t)

21 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 27 caps, 20 pts (4t)

22 Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 27 caps, 35 pts (7t)

23 Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners) – 27 caps, 145 pts (2t, 48c, 13p)

Stats and facts:

Springbok record against Ireland:

Played 30, Won 19, Lost 10, Drawn 1. Points for: 581; Points against: 457. Tries scored: 75; Tries conceded: 42. Highest score: 38; Biggest win: 38 points (38-0). Win %: 63.3%.

Miscellaneous:

• RG Snyman will earn the significant achievement of playing 50 Tests when he runs onto the park at the Aviva Stadium after making his debut against England back in 2018.
• The last time the Springboks met Ireland was in the Castle Lager Incoming Series in 2024 – with each side winning a match – while their last game in Dublin was in 2022, where the hosts registered a narrow 19-16 victory.
• Cheslin Kolbe and Cobus Reinach will feature in their 49^th Test matches, leaving them one short of joining the 50s club.
• The Springboks have won only four of their last nine matches in Dublin since the game turned professional in 1996. Those victories were in 1998, 2000, 2010 and 2012, when South Africa won 16-12.
• The total Test caps in the Springbok starting line-up are 876.There are 361 caps in the backline, with 515 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further238 caps.
• The average caps per player in the backline is52, the forwards 64, while the players on the bench average 30.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus on Thursday named a new-look starting team for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour Test against Italy at the Allianz Stadium in Turin on Saturday afternoon, which will again be led by inspirational captain Siya Kolisi, with the Bok coach making 11 changes to his run-on side and one on the replacements bench from last week’s 32-17 victory against France.

The players who retained their places in the starting team are Boan Venter (prop), Kolisi (flanker), Kurt-Lee Arendse (wing) and Damian Willemse (fullback), while Erasmus opted for the same bench except for Kwagga Smith (loose forward), who returns to the squad in place of Johan Grobbelaar, who was promoted to the starting lineup.

RG Snyman (replacement lock) is in line to earn his 49^th Test cap, leaving him only one match short of joining the select group of players who have racked up a half-century of Test caps.

The Bok coach named a fresh front row of Venter, Grobbelaar, and Zachary Porthen (who made his Test debut against Japan in London), while Jean Kleyn will feature in his first match since the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final when he pairs up with Franco Mostert in the engine room.

Kolisi retains the No 6 jersey in a loose trio with Ben-Jason Dixon, in what marks his first Test this season, and Marco van Staden, who will start at No 8.

The Bok backline also has a new feel to it, with Morne van den Berg and Handre Pollard dictating play at halfback, while Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe have been selected at wing. Ethan Hooker and Canan Moodie form a physical centre pairing, and Willemse serving as the last line of defence at fullback.

On the bench, Erasmus – who guided the team in his 50^th Test as head coach last week – has included props Gerhard Steenekamp and Wilco Louw, locks Snyman and Ruan Nortje, loose forward Kwagga Smith and hybrid Andre Esterhuizen, while the two specialist backline players are Grant Williams (scrumhalf) and Manie Libbok (flyhalf). Van Staden will serve as the back-up hooker.

“We said from the outset of the tour that we want to give as many players as possible a chance to play, and we believe this team is best suited to the threats Italy will pose,” said Erasmus.

“One of our key pillars is to build squad depth, and it’s great to have players like Jean, Handre, Edwill, and Ben-Jason back, who have all been in the mix in the last few seasons.

“Handre and Jean have played in Rugby World Cups, while Ben-Jason and Edwill have both performed for us at the highest level, and we are excited to see what they’ll bring this weekend.”

Of the decision not to include a specialist back-up hooker among the replacements, Erasmus said: “Marco played hooker for us at the World Cup, and he has been training in the position since, so it doesn’t make a difference whether he starts at loose forward and moves to hooker, or whether we named him solely as the back-up hooker on the bench. He’s a versatile player, and we are confident that he’ll be able to do the job required at No 8 and at hooker if necessary this weekend.”

Erasmus expected Italy to come out firing and said their victory against Australia last week proved what a force they can be.

“We may have won both our matches against them in the Castle Lager Incoming Series, but they tested us well in both matches, and put up a brave fight,” said Erasmus.

“Their victory against Australia will also boost their confidence immensely, so we have a lot of respect for them, and we’ll have to give everything to get the result we want on the weekend.

“They’ve made huge strides in the last few years, and last week’s result shows what they are capable of when they are at their best, so we are not taking them lightly.

“They have also beaten us in Italy before, they are a passionate and well-coached team, and they’ll have an ardent crowd behind them in Torino, so we know what we are in for.”

The game kicks off at 14h40 (SA Time) and will be broadcast live on SuperSport’s Grandstand and Rugby channels.

Springbok team to face Italy in Turin:

15 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 46 caps, 66 pts (6t, 9c, 4p, 2 dg)

14 Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 4 caps, 25 pts (5t)

13 Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 20 caps, 40 pts (8t)

12 Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 6 caps, 0 pts

11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 29 caps, 115 pts (23t)

10 Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls) - 84 caps, 815 pts (8t, 122 c, 172 p, 5dg)

9 Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions) – 4 caps, 15 pts (3t)

8 Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 31 caps, 15 pts (3t)

7 Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers) – 5 caps, 5 pts (1t)

6 Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 100 caps, 70 pts (14t)

5 Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 82 caps, 20 pts (4t)

4 Jean Kleyn (Munster) – 7 caps, 0 pts

3 Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers) – 1 cap, 0 pts

2 Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls) – 5 caps, 0 pts

1 Boan Venter (Edinburgh) – 6 caps, 5 pts (1t)

Replacements:

16 Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 13 caps, 5 pts (1t)

17 Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 26 caps, 5 pts (1t)

18 RG Snyman (Leinster) – 48 caps, 15 pts (3t)

19 Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 15 caps, 0 pts

20 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 26 caps, 20 pts (4t)

21 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 60 caps, 55 pts (11t)

22 Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 26 caps, 30 pts (6t)

23 Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners) – 26 caps, 141 pts (2t, 46c, 13p)

Stats and facts:

Springbok record against Italy:

Played 18; Won 17; Lost 1; Points for: 851, Points against: 219; Tries scored 113, Tries conceded 19; Highest score 101-0; Biggest win 101 points. Win % 94%.

Miscellaneous:

• RG Snyman requires only one Test cap after Saturday’s encounter to join the select club of players to earn 50 Test caps.
• The Springboks have faced Italy 18 times and won 17 of those matches. Their only defeat was in Florence in 2016, where Italy pipped the Boks by 20-18.
• This will mark the first time the teams face one another in Turin.
• Mani Libbok requires only nine more points to score 150 Test points.
• The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 430.
• There are193 caps in the backline, with 237 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further240 caps.
• The average caps per player in the backline is28, the forwards 30, while the players on the bench average 30.

Kolisi celebrates 100 as Erasmus makes switches for France showdown

Siya Kolisi will become the ninth Springbok centurion when he leads South Africa out against France at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday, with Bok coach Rassie Erasmus – who will guide the side in his 50^th Test as head coach – making six personnel changes to the side that defeated Japan last week.

This massive feat for Kolisi and Erasmus adds to a string of remarkable achievements, which include winning back-to-back Rugby World Cups and Castle Lager Rugby Championship titles, as well as the British & Irish Lions Series.

Erasmus has selected Boan Venter to replace the injured Ox Nche at loosehead prop, while Thomas du Toit (tighthead prop), Eben Etzebeth (lock), Pieter-Steph du Toit (flanker) and Damian Willemse (utility back) all return to the starting lineup.

The only change amongst the replacements sees RG Snyman (lock) move from the starting team to the bench in place of Kwagga Smith (loose forward), who is carrying a niggle.

This will see Venter, Malcolm Marx (hooker), and Thomas du Toit pack down in the front row, while Etzebeth will join forces with Lood de Jager in the engine room. The loose trio of Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Jasper Wiese is the same that started in the Boks’ 30-26 defeat against France in Marseille in 2022.

Erasmus made only two changes to the backline. Willemse starts at fullback in place of Cheslin Kolbe, who moves to his regular position at wing with Kurt-Lee Arendse, while the experienced centre pairing of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel will man the midfield, and halfbacks Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu are set to dictate play.

The Vodacom Bulls trio of Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp, and Wilco Louw will again serve as the back-up front row, along with locks Snyman, Ruan Nortje, and hybrid player Andre Esterhuizen. The two backline players on the bench are Grant Williams and Manie Libbok.

Eleven players in the team participated in the Boks’ narrow RWC quarter-final victory over Les Bleus at the same venue two years ago – Etzebeth, Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Snyman, Reinach, Arendse, Kolbe, Kriel, De Allende, Willemse, and Libbok – while 12 players featured in the match in Marseille in 2022, which includes Marx, who was ruled out early in the RWC campaign due to a knee injury.

“We always planned to make a few changes for this match, and we’ll continue to rotate the players throughout the tour, so we can give as many players as possible a chance while at the same time trying to achieve our objectives on the field,” said Erasmus.

“This, however, is the team we feel is best suited to what we expect from France, and the way we would like to play this weekend. Many of them have also faced France in 2022 and 2023, so they know what to expect from the hosts and have also had a taste of what it is to play in front of their passionate home crowd.”

Commenting on Kolisi playing in his 100^th Test, Erasmus said: “This is a huge milestone for Siya and we are all delighted for him. He is a level-headed player and although this will be a big occasion for him, and a match that we would like to make special for him, he is fully focused on the task at hand, so he won’t allow that to overshadow what he must do on the field.

“This is a huge game, and the entire team knows how determined France will be to make up for the World Cup result, so we’ll celebrate Siya’s achievement after the match. That said, hopefully we can make it a memorable game for him.”

With the narrative in the French media and from the France camp being on revenge for what happened in 2023, Erasmus said they were preparing for the match as they do for every other Test and that they had to be on point on Saturday to get the desired result.

“France have a quality team all around, with good forwards and backs, and they are a side that plays for the full 80 minutes,” said Erasmus.

“They will also have a fanatical home crowd behind them, which will inspire them immensely, so we are fully aware of the magnitude of this match, and we know what we have to do on the field.

“The game against Japan certainly helped in getting some of the players back into Test-match mode, and hopefully that will set us in good stead going into this game.

“The key for us is that we have to be accurate in everything we do, make the most of the chances we create, and to keep fighting from the first whistle until the hooter sounds because there is no doubt it’s going to be another epic battle between the teams.”

The match kicks off at 22h10 and the action will be broadcast live on SuperSport’s Grandstand and Rugby channels during DStv Open Time.

Springbok team to face France in Paris:

15 Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 45 caps, 66 pts (6t, 9c, 4p, 2 dg)

14 Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath) – 47 caps, 126 pts (21t, 3c, 5p)

13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 85 caps, 100 pts (20t)

12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 94 caps, 55 pts (11t)

11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 28 caps, 115 pts (23t)

10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 16 caps, 120 pts (5t, 31c, 11p)

9 Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers) – 47 caps, 85 pts (17t)

8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 40 caps, 10 pts (2t)

7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 93 caps, 70 pts (14t)

6 Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 99 caps, 70 pts (14t)

5 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 72 caps, 25 pts (5t)

4 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 138 caps, 35 pts (7t)

3 Thomas du Toit (Bath) – 30 caps, 5 pts (1t)

2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 85 caps, 135 pts (27t)

1 Boan Venter (Edinburgh) – 5 caps, 5 pts (1t)

Replacements:

16 Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls) – 4 caps, 0 pts

17 Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 12 caps, 5 pts (1t)

18 Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 25 caps, 5 pts (1t)

19 RG Snyman (Leinster) – 47 caps, 15 points (3t)

20 Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 14 caps, 0 pts

21 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 25 caps, 15 pts (3t)

22 Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 25 caps, 25 pts (5t)

23 Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners) – 25 caps, 141 pts (2t, 46c, 13p)

Stats and facts:

Springbok record against France:

Played 46; Won 28; Lost 12; Drawn 6. Points for: 994, Points against: 720. Tries scored 111, Tries conceded 64. Highest score 52-10; Biggest win 42 points. Win % 61%.

Miscellaneous:

• Siya Kolisi, who made his Test debut against Scotland in Nelspruit in 2013, will play his 100^th Test match, making him only the ninth Springbok centurion in the history of the game. The last player to reach this significant feat was Willie le Roux against Italy in July.
• Erasmus will guide the team in his 50^th Test as the Springbok head coach, with the former Springbok flanker’s win record currently standing at 73.4%.
• The last time the Springboks met France was in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final, where they registered a 29-28 victory, and went on to lift the trophy for the second time in a row.
• The entire Springbok backline, apart from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, featured in the RWC quarter-final against France – either in the starting lineup or playing off the replacements bench.
• Eleven players in the matchday squad played in the RWC match against France, while 12 players were involved in the match-up between the teams in 2022.
• The Springboks have won the last four matches between the teams in Paris, dating back to 2013, with their highest winning margin in those encounters being by nine points. Les Bleus last won a match against the Boks in the French capital in 2005.
• The total Test caps in the Springbok starting line-up are924. There are 362 caps in the backline, with 562 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further177 caps.
• The average caps per player in the backline is52, the forwards 70, while the players on the bench average 22.

Former Junior Springbok captain Zachary Porthen will make his Springbok debut against Japan at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday as Bok coach Rassie Erasmus named a largely settled match-23 for the opening match of the November Internationals.

Erasmus named 16 players in his matchday squad that featured in the team’s 29-27 victory against Argentina in their final Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash earlier this month, which saw them clinch the title for the second year in a row.

Three players will make a welcome return to the squad having last featured earlier in the season, while two others, who have not been involved so far in 2025, are back in the green and gold.

Kurt-Lee Arendse (wing), Franco Mostert (utility forward), and Lood de Jager (lock) reclaim their places in the starting XV after missing the last few matches due to injuries and a family bereavement. Gerhard Steenekamp (prop) and Johan Grobbelaar (hooker) are back among the replacements after last featuring in the 2024 Castle Lager Outgoing Tour.

André Esterhuizen, who has become known as a hybrid player, has also been named on the replacements bench as a back-up loose forward, although he could be drafted into the backline if the need arises.

Ox Nche, Porthen – who will become the youngest prop to make his Test debut for the Springboks in the professional era – and Malcolm Marx will form a quality front row, while RG Snyman and De Jager will join forces in the engine room, and Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will form a loose trio with Mostert and Jasper Wiese, completing a powerful pack for the match.

In the backline, Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will dictate play at halfback, with the exciting Arendse and Ethan Hooker on the wings, with Cheslin Kolbe moving from his regular wing position to fullback for the clash.

The experienced Japan-based centre pairing of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel will partner up in the midfield.

On the replacements bench, Grobbelaar will unite with Steenekamp and Wilco Louw in the back-up front row, with Ruan Nortje providing lock cover, Esterhuizen covering flanker, and Kwagga Smith further loose forward cover. The two backs on the bench are playmakers Grant Williams and Manie Libbok, who will also play a crucial role in providing a notable impact off the bench.

“Six players in the group are currently plying their trade in Japan, and we believe their experience of playing in that league and either with or against some of their players will be a bonus for us, but I’m sure Japan will also tap into their knowledge of those players as they prepare for the match,” said Erasmus.

“It is also good to have a few players back in the mix after missing a few games due to various reasons, and one can sense their excitement to be back in the squad, so we felt this is the best team we could field against a quality Japan outfit, who will want to make a strong point against us.”

Of Porthen being named in the starting team in his first week with the squad, Erasmus said: “He proved at Vodacom United Rugby Championship level and with the Junior Springboks what he can do, and we are looking forward to seeing what he can offer in his first Test match.

“Obviously, he has a lot to learn this week, but we have experienced players in the squad who have been helping and guiding him, and we believe this is the right match to give him an opportunity to prove what he can do.

“At this level, you have to sink or swim, so although it will be a challenging week for him to learn our structures, it will also be a very exciting week for him.”

Commenting on the challenge Japan posed, Erasmus said it would be a tough encounter, especially if one looks at the strides they have made in the last few years.

“They are a quality team, and they have a top coach in Eddie Jones, so we have no doubt they’ll throw everything at us,” said Erasmus.

“They beat us in 2015, and they showed what a quality outfit they are in the first half of our 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-final against them, so we are expecting them to come out guns blazing.

“They also lost by only four points against Australia last weekend, which is a testament to the improvement they have been making, so we need to be sharp on attack and defence if we want to get the result.

“Very little separates the top teams in the world, and if you are not on your game both mentally and physically on the day, anything can happen. So, we will treat them with the utmost respect, and we also know how important this match will be to set the tone for the rest of our tour.”

The match kicks off at 18h10 (SA time) and will be broadcast live and exclusively on SuperSport.

Springbok team to face Japan in London:

15 Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath) – 46 caps, 126 points (21t, 3c, 5p)

14 Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 5 caps, 0 points

13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 84 caps, 95 points (19t)

12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 93 caps, 55 points (11t)

11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 27 caps, 105 points (21t)

10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) - 15 caps, 104 points (3t, 28c, 11p)

9 Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers) – 46 caps, 85 pts (17t)

8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 39 caps, 10 points (2t)

7 Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 81 caps, 20 points (4t)

6 Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 98 caps, 65 points (13t)

5 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 71 caps, 25 points (5t)

4 RG Snyman (Leinster) – 46 caps, 15 points (3t)

3 Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers) – uncapped

2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 84 caps, 135 pts (27t)

1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 46 caps, 0 pts

Replacements:

16 Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls) – 3 caps, 0 points

17 Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 11 caps, 5 points (1t)

18 Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 24 caps, 0 pts

19 Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 13 caps, 0 pts

20 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 24 caps, 10 pts (2t)

21 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 59 caps, 55 points (11t)

22 Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 24 caps, 25 pts (5t)

23 Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners) – 24 caps, 133 pts (2t, 42c, 13p)

Stats and facts:

Springbok record against Japan

Played 3; Won 2; Lost 1; Drawn 0; Points for: 99, Points against: 44; Tries scored 12, Tries conceded 4; Highest score 41-7; Biggest winning margin 34 points. Win % 66.7%.

Miscellaneous:

• The Springboks’ only defeat against Japan was in 2015, when they went down 34-32 in Brighton in their Rugby World Cup pool opener.
• The last time the teams crossed paths was in the 2019 RWC quarter-final in Tokyo, where the Boks registered a 26-3 victory, and went on to be crowned the world champions for the third time in history.
• Siya Kolisi will play his 99^th Test match, leaving him only one game short of becoming the ninth Springbok centurion in the history of the game.
• Zachary Porthen captained the Junior Springboks last year and will become Springbok #953 on Saturday.
• Jesse Kriel has scored 95 Test points in his 84 Tests and requires only five to make it to 100 in the green and gold.
• The total Test caps in the Springbok starting line-up are 781.There are 316 caps in the backline, with 465 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further182 caps.
• The average caps per player in the backline is45, the forwards 58, while the players on the bench average 23.

Former Junior Springbok prop and captainZachary Porthen earned his first Springbok call-up on Monday as national coach Rassie Erasmus named a quality 36-man squad for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour in November, which features four players who will return to the Bok set-up for the first time this season.

Erasmus also placed 10 players on standby, including uncapped Ulster and formerWorld Rugby U20 Championship Player of the Tournament, Juarno Augustus, and Vodacom Bulls back Sebastian de Klerk.

The Boks will face Japan in the first of five Tests on consecutive Saturdays at Wembley Stadium in London on 1 November, before lining up against France at Stade de France in Paris (8 November), Italy at the Allianz Stadium, Turin (15 November), Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin (22 November), and Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff (29 November).

Porthen, who made his DHL Stormers’ Vodacom United Rugby Championship debut in May and is currently on tour with the team in Italy, is the only uncapped player in the 36-man squad, who will depart for London in different groups from their respective franchises and clubs on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Ben-Jason Dixon (flanker), Johan Grobbelaar (hooker), and Gerhard Steenekamp (prop) will make their first appearances for the team this season, while Jean Kleyn (lock), who suffered an injury during the team’s opening match of the year against the Barbarians, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Edwill van der Merwe (both wings), are all back from injury.

The squad includes 21 forwards and 15 backline players, while the standby list features seven forwards –Augustus (No 8), Neethling Fouche (prop), Bongi Mbonambi (hooker), Salmaan Moerat (lock), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (prop), Evan Roos (No 8), and Vincent Tshituka (utility forward) – and three backs in Lukhanyo Am (centre), De Klerk (utility back), and Makazole Mapimpi (wing).

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi is in line to become only the ninth South African Test centurion on the tour after racking up his 98^th Test cap in the team’s 29-27 victory against Argentina in their final Castle Lager Rugby Championship match at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, earlier this month, which saw the Boks clinch the southern hemisphere title for the second time in a row.

Among the injured players not considered for selection are Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Frans Malherbe, Trevor Nyakane, Jean-Luc du Preez, and Aphelele Fassi.

“We are excited about the makeup of this squad,” said Erasmus. “Most of the players in the group have been with us throughout the season, while others are back from injury or have done the job for us before in the last few years.

“It’s also great to see a young player like Zachary, who has emerged through our junior structures, come through the ranks into the senior set-up, and we are excited to see what he can do at this level.”

Erasmus added: “With five tough matches lined up, we always planned to select a manageable squad, and we have a solid bunch of players on standby, some of whom have been with us during stages this season, and uncapped players such as Sebastian and Juarno, who have continued to impress us with their performances.

“With Neethling and Salmaan currently in the process of returning from injury, it’s important for us that they get more game time for their Vodacom URC franchises, which was the main reason for excluding them from the 36-man squad.

“Obviously, players not included on the standby list could also be called up should the need arise.”

Looking ahead at the tour, Erasmus admitted that while it would be challenging given the quality of the opposition they will be facing, the team was eager to get back on the field.

“It’s a longer tour than usual and we are facing top-class opposition, but we are looking forward to it,” said Erasmus.

“Ireland and France are currently ranked third and fourth in the world, while Italy, Wales, and Japan are in 10^th, 12^th and 13^th place, and we’ve seen in the last few years that you cannot write off any team.

“Ireland and France are always tough opposition, and they both won four out of their five Six Nations matches, with France emerging as the eventual champions, and we know how challenging it is to beat them both at home.

“Japan have beaten us before, Italy put up a good fight against us earlier this year in Pretoria, and Wales beat Japan, proving that they are again on an upward trajectory, so it’s going to be a challenging tour.

“We have delivered a few good performances but also a few disappointing ones this season, so this will be a good opportunity to test ourselves and see if we can build consistency from week to week. That said, it is going to take a massive effort, and we are excited about the tour.”

Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour:

Forwards:Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).

Backs:Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).

Players on standby:

Forwards: Juarno Augustus (Ulster), Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks).

Backs: Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sebastian De Klerk (Vodacom Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks).

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus selected a strong 37-man squad for the first two Tests in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship against Australia, featuring 24 Rugby World Cup-winners and five players who made their Test debuts during their successful Castle Lager Incoming Series.

The Bok coach also invited three Young Guns, who were members of the triumphant Junior Springbok World Rugby U20 Championship squad –Bathobele Hlekani,Cheswill Jooste, andHaashim Pead – to train with the group during their two-week conditioning camp in Johannesburg starting on Sunday27 July, to orientate them into the Springbok culture.

The five players who earned their first Springbok Test caps in July are Ethan Hooker (utility back), Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Boan Venter (both props), Marnus van der Merwe (hooker), and Cobus Wiese (utility forward).

Meanwhile, Bath prop Thomas du Toit has been granted a compulsory two-week rest as agreed with the Gallagher Premiership, although he is eligible to be called up at any stage should the need arise, while No 8 Jasper Wiese is currently serving a four-week suspension, ruling him out of this squad. 

A handful of players, in turn, have been released to their respective franchises to build up game time in the Carling Currie Cup competition, although a few of them have been placed on standby for the Wallaby Tests. 

The standby players are Lukhanyo Am (centre), who missed the July Tests due to a knee niggle, Faf de Klerk (scrumhalf), Makazole Mapimpi (wing), Salmaan Moerat (lock), Evan Roos (No 8), Neethling Fouche (prop), and Vincent Tshituka (flanker).

In total, Erasmus’ squad includes 20 forwards and 17 backline players. The Springboks will face the Wallabies in Johannesburg on Saturday 16 August, and again a week later in Cape Town on 23 August.

“It’s always challenging to reduce the squad, especially given how the expanded group of players put up their hands during the Castle Lager Incoming Series, but we always said we would select a smaller, more manageable squad during the Castle Lager Rugby Championship,” said Erasmus. 

“This group includes several experienced players and a few younger guys, who grabbed their chances in the last few Tests, so we are pleased with this squad for the first two matches.

“We have also informed the players on standby what our plans are and what we expect from them, so that all of them are ready to step up if needed.”

Erasmus elaborated on the composition of the squad, saying: “We probably have three players who can cover each position, which is important in this competition, so it was a thorough process to narrow down the group to 36 players.

“One of our key pillars as a team is to build squad depth, and there is no better way to see what some of the younger players are capable of than to expose them to some of the top teams in the world.”

Of the young guns invited to train with the squad for the next two weeks, Erasmus said: “We are tremendously proud of the Junior Springboks for winning the World Rugby U20 Championship and we were thrilled to see the talent coming through the junior ranks, so we opted to invite three of them to join us to expose them to our structures and the standards required at top international level.

“We believe this camp will benefit them significantly, and we are excited to see how they slot in and train with us.

“Unfortunately, we had to limit the size of the squad to ensure maximum outputs and more individual attention at our training sessions, so although more players could have been invited, we could only select three.”

Erasmus expected a completely different challenge in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship to that against the Barbarians, Italy, and Georgia, and said: “Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina are all ranked in the top seven in the world, and if one considers that we won the Castle Lager Rugby Championship for the first time since 2019 last year, it is clear that this will be a completely different kettle of fish.

“All three teams have beaten us in the last few years and they play a different style of rugby to the other opposition we have faced thus far, but we are pleased with the foundation we laid in the last few weeks and we know exactly what areas of our game we need to work on going into the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.” 

Erasmus will announce his squad for the two-match tour to New Zealand in September before making the journey Down Under, where they will face their arch-rivals at Eden Park in Auckland on 6 September, and the Sky Stadium in Wellington on 13 September respectively.

The team will wrap up their campaign with Test matches against Argentina in Durban on Saturday 27 September, and in London on 4 October.

Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship Tests against Australia:

Forwards:Lood de Jager (Wild Knights),Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux Begles), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks),Franco Mostert (Honda Heat),Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs),RG Snyman (Leinster),Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls),Boan Venter (Edinburgh),Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls).

Backs:Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath),Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls), Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls), Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers),Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks),Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).