Ahead of the Springboks’ clash against the All Blacks in Johannesburg next weekend, we predict the team that Rassie Erasmus will select for the much-anticipated first Test.
South Africa’s head coach is known for rotating his squad, even against the best sides in the world, but we expect them to go in fully-loaded against New Zealand with a team full of experience and quality.
15 Damian Willemse
Has cemented his position as first choice full-back with a magnificent Nations Championship. Was particularly special in the victory over England by dominating in the air and will surely take the role next weekend. Aphelele Fassi was poor in the narrow triumph against Argentina and made the decision easier for Erasmus.
14 Cheslin Kolbe
It is not inconceivable that the head coach does something no one expects, given his maverick tendencies, but the first Test at least he will surely go the more expected names and that includes Kolbe, who remains one of the best players in the world. Has continued to improve in all facets of the game with the wing a presence in the air despite his shorter stature.
13 Jesse Kriel
Perhaps not as devastating in attack as he used to be but Kriel is one of the best defensive centres in the game and is a real leader in the backline. He has been consistently excellent for the Springboks over the past few years and will be a key linchpin if they are to emerge triumphant over the All Blacks in the four-Test series.
12 Damian de Allende
Has formed one of the best centre partnerships in the world alongside Kriel and it is still one going strong. De Allende, despite being 35 in November, remains incredibly dynamic, while he also has an underrated passing game. His individual duel with Jordie Barrett over the next month could be one for the ages.
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse
Another scrum-capped wing who is set to take to the field for the Boks. Arendse has a remarkable try-scoring record at Test level and always performs at a high level for the country, so we can’t see Erasmus considering anyone else on that left wing at the moment. Ethan Hooker was promising against Argentina and was stunning in the record victory over the All Blacks last year, but he has been hampered by injury recently.
10 Manie Libbok
Erasmus has a very tough call at fly-half. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is the most gifted of the three and will probably be the favoured option more often than the other two, while Handre Pollard is ultra reliable in the big moments, but Libbok was the playmaker that guided them to two large wins over New Zealand in a 2023 World Cup warm-up and in Wellington last year. With Feinberg-Mngomezulu struggling in the victory over Los Pumas, the Boks may just go with the 29-year-old.
9 Cobus Reinach
Another position where there are plenty of options for South Africa but Reinach has generally been the trusted scrum-half general in the big games. Wasn’t at his best over in Argentina but the 36-year-old is still a top quality operator and should get in ahead of Grant Williams.
8 Jasper Wiese
There was a lot of talk about Cameron Hanekom while he was producing an exceptional display in South America last weekend, but that was quickly shut down by Erasmus, who was insistent that Wiese is their first choice number eight. It means that barring injury he will take his place in the run-on side in Johannesburg.
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (c)
Given his importance to the Springboks, they will look to manage his workload ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup but, in a series as important as this, Du Toit will start next weekend and likely captain the side with Siya Kolisi probably out of the encounter.
6 Paul de Villiers
No official update has been given on the hamstring issue Kolisi suffered in Argentina, but it would be a surprise if he has recovered in time for this game. Even if he is fit enough to play, they will likely err on the side of caution in this instance considering his recent injury issues and his age. There would be no point risking him, which means De Villiers is the next in line for that six jersey having enjoyed a fine few games in Test rugby last month.
5 Ruan Nortje
Has become an important cog in this South African outfit. Nortje has a mammoth work rate and contributes plenty around the field but he is the lineout general in this side and has sorted out some of the issues they had last year. Lood de Jager is an option of course, but he looked off the pace in his return from injury.
4 Eben Etzebeth
Like De Jager, the Boks’ record cap holder has not played much recently, but he grew into the game against Argentina and went the full 80 minutes. With that under his belt, he should have enough in the tank to start against the All Blacks.
3 Thomas du Toit
Has been the preferred starter and he should take that role again when Dave Rennie’s men visit Johannesburg. Du Toit isn’t perhaps their strongest scrummager but he is still outstanding in that area, while the tighthead also offers plenty around the field.
2 Malcolm Marx
An easy choice here. South Africa don’t necessarily lack depth at hooker with Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Johan Grobbelaar outstanding front-rowers, but it is difficult to see anyone other than Marx starting the first three Tests at the very least. One of the best players of his generation.
1 Ox Nche
Has gone from a key member of the Bomb Squad to guaranteed starter. Sets the tone in the set-piece while also being a destructive carrier with ball in hand. Can get his side on the front foot in several ways and is undoubtedly the premier loosehead in the sport at the moment.
Bench: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Andre Esterhuizen, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
There are a few tight battles for the bench and beginning at hooker it will likely be between Wessels and Grobbelaar, but we reckon Erasmus will go for the former. Steenekamp is an obvious call at loosehead as he is another outstanding scrummager but tighthead is much tougher for the Boks coaches.
Wilco Louw is the best in the set-piece but youngster Zachary Porthen has been improving every game in that area and offers more around the field. Nick Mallett has a theory that Louw’s influence has been reduced due to World Rugby depowering the scrum and, with Porthen a standout in Argentina, the 22-year-old could sneak it.
The replacement lock is also difficult but Cobus Wiese was impactful against Los Pumas and quite frankly, is in better shape than De Jager at the moment. Franco Mostert is also in the wider training squad but he has not played since June.
As for the replacement loose forward(s), they do not lack for options but Hanekom’s performance against Los Pumas could be rewarded while hybrid player Andre Esterhuizen, providing he has recovered from his head injury, effectively allows South Africa to have both a 6-2 and 5-3 bench.
That leaves the out-and-out backline spots where we predict Williams to fill one and Feinberg-Mngomezulu the other. The latter was not exactly stellar against Argentina but he is a special talent and, perhaps most importantly, can play at fly-half, centre and full-back.
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