22 - 17

47 - 17

24 - 35

24 - 46

49 - 17

19 - 15

7 - 41

5 - 7

33 - 15

WOMENS

22 - 39

21 - 27

29 - 10

International

Siya Kolisi back to face Georgia with Boks set to hand out 3 new caps

By Josh Raisey

26 days ago

Siya Kolisi of the Springboks acknowledges fans as he leaves the field during The Rugby Championship match between Australia Wallabies and South Africa Springboks at Suncorp Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

Siya Kolisi will make his first appearance for South Africa in 2025 against Georgia in Mbombela on Saturday after overcoming a neck injury.

The flanker will lead a Springboks side that has seen 15 changes from the squad that triumphed over Italy 45-0 last week.

Yet more new caps will be awarded this July, with head coach Rassie Erasmus naming a completely uncapped front-row comprising Edinburgh loosehead Boan Venter, Scarlets hooker Marnus van der Merwe and Stormers tighthead Neethling Fouche.

Having started on the bench last week for his first cap, Cobus Wiese will make his starting debut at No.8, replacing his brother, Jasper, following his ban.

Fixture

Internationals

South Africa

55 - 10

Full-time

Georgia

All Stats and Data

Looking ahead to the match, Erasmus said: “Georgia are a tough outfit, and they pride themselves on their physicality and brute force in the collisions, so the set pieces, mauls, and breakdowns will be key areas.

“They also have quality backline players to round off their team, so we need to be sharp in all the departments of our game to ensure that we continue to lift our standards, build momentum, and get the desired result.”

On the debutants, he said: “Boan, Marnus, and Neethling have been training hard and deserve their chance.

“Marnus and Neethling played against the Barbarians, so they have an idea of what international rugby is about, while Boan has shown great potential at club level and with the squad in the last few weeks, and we are looking forward to seeing him play.

“Building squad depth has been one of our pillars as a squad since 2018, and they are all undoubtedly ready to make the step-up.”

Springboks XV
15 – Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 11 caps, 35 points (7t)
14 – Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 2 caps, 15 pts (3t)
13 – Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls) – 13 caps, 30 pts (6t)
12 – Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 88 caps, 55 points (11t)
11 – Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 25 caps, 95 points (19t)
10 – Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 9 caps, 52 points (14c, 8p)
9 – Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 17 caps, 25 pts (5t)
8 – Cobus Wiese (Vodacom Bulls) – 1 cap, 0 pts
7 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 87 caps, 40 pts (8t)
6 – Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 92 caps, 60 points (12t)
5 – Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 7 caps, 0 pts
4 – Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 132 caps, 35 points (7t)
3 – Neethling Fouche (DHL Stormers) – uncapped
2 – Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets) – uncapped
1 – Boan Venter (Edinburgh) – uncapped

Replacements
16 – Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 78 caps, 70 points (14t)
17 – Thomas du Toit (Bath) – 24 caps, 5 pts (1t)
18 – Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 62 caps, 5 points (1t)
19 – RG Snyman (Leinster) – 41 caps, 10 points (2t)
20 – Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 52 caps, 45 points (9t)
21 – Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles) – 59 caps, 50 points (5t, 5c, 5p)
22 – Handre Pollard (Vodacom Bulls) – 81 caps, 784 points (7t, 115c, 168p, 5dg)
23 – Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers) – 40 caps, 56 points (4t, 9c, 4p, 2 dg)

News, stats, videos and more! Download the new RugbyPass app, in collaboration with the British and Irish Lions, on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) now!

LIVE

Comments

47 Comments

DP 25 days ago

Those three new caps are against the spirit of the game.

SadersMan 26 days ago

Saffas over-hyping tests v Italy & Georgia 🤣🤣🤣

Wayneo 25 days ago

What’s the problem with that? We are a nation with a deep love for the game of rugby, not just winning like kiwis, we even over-hype amateur club games played on dirt tracks in the middle of nowhere.

Ninjin 26 days ago

Wrong. We see them as practice matches. Nothing more. Only two test matches that matter. Can you guess against who?

Ninjin 26 days ago

If the setpiece work this backline might provide some fireworks. Would be nice if DDA can get an offloading game going.

Hammer Head 26 days ago

Great team.

I’d be surprised if Siya plays more than 8/9 games a year if he’s to get to 2027 to captain the Boks for the 3-peat

fl 26 days ago

Yes, there will be a lot of inconsistency in selection this year.

Hellhound 26 days ago

You are right. Siya, Eben, Handre, Willie and a few more older players too is my bet. The future is bright, but that's a lot of experience Rassie will keep around and manage until after the 2027 WC. Can't lose that much experience to just chuck them out for young blood. The younger players learns a lot from them.

SK 26 days ago

Marnus Van der Merwe seems to have gone past Johan Grobbelaar. He was great in URC for Scarlets and so was Venter for Edinburgh but one feels that these selections may not go down with local players who are slogging it out here in SA. Mchunu is injured as is Steenekamp and Venter is probably behind them when they are fit but this really is a kick in the teeth for SA franchise players. Wiese at 8 is an interesting choice and also ahead of Roos. What does this say about Roos who didnt start one game and cant even make the grade right now against players who dont even play 8?

Hammer Head 26 days ago

Roos might feel aggrieved. But he’s been down the pecking order some time. I feel he’s more suited to a 6 at international level than and 8 to be honest.

If the players you’ve cited have moved down the pecking order, I’m sure they’re aware of why and what they need to do.

But I think all the selections against the Baa Baas, Italy and Georgia are hardly a slight against local players (or any players at all) and more an opportunity to give players a chance and build depth.

It’s the only opportunity this year to do so - selections in the RC and against the opposition we’re facing at the end of the year won’t be as experimental.

Hellhound 26 days ago

I wouldn't worry about it. Rassie is trying out combinations. This team named doesn't mean anything besides experimentation. Time to experiment and see what's available in the depth department is running short. Rassie won't experiment during the RC, and the EOYT this year is too tough to try new things and players. The seeding at the end of this year determines the positions for the WC. Next year the Boks will most likely be refined down to the players that will go to the WC, so I don't see Rassie experimenting with players but rather tactics for the WC. Of course, this is my personal opinion and most likely I'm completely wrong considering its Rassie we are talking about. It's what I'd have done, but I'm not Rassie🤣🤣🤣

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!