South Africa select Kolisi at No. 8 for Australia clash at Ellis Park

Straits Times

5 days ago

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JOHANNESBURG – South Africa captain Siya Kolisi will start at No. 8 for the first time in a Test when they begin their Rugby Championship defence in Johannesburg against Australia on Aug 16.
The 34-year-old double Rugby World Cup winner, who will be making his 94th Test appearance, is usually found on the flank but has operated in the position for his franchise, the Durban-based Sharks.
He will do it for the first time for the Boks largely because the other leading contenders are all unavailable.
Regular No. 8 Jasper Wiese is serving a four-match ban after head-butting a rival in a warm-up victory over Italy in July.
Other options Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom suffered serious pre-Springbok season injuries and are unlikely to be available this year.
Moving Kolisi means flanker Marco van Staden comes into the starting line-up with reigning World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit completing the back row.
Manie Libbok gets the nod at fly-half ahead of Handre Pollard and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu with head coach Rassie Erasmus well aware of the record of the Japan-based playmaker.
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The Springboks have lost only one of 13 Tests when Libbok started – the pool defeat by Ireland at the 2023 World Cup in France.
But when the 28-year-old came off the bench in seven internationals, record four-time World Cup winners South Africa lost four.
Creative Libbok is capable of opening the tightest defences, but doubts remain over his goal kicking, a skill perfected by Pollard.
Grant Williams has moved to the front of the queue for the hotly contested scrum-half position and starts with veteran Cobus Reinach providing cover on the bench.
Erasmus has opted not to risk star winger Cheslin Kolbe or veteran centre Damian de Allende as both are recovering from niggles.
Edwill van der Merwe, who has scored five tries in three Tests, replaces Kolbe on the right wing while Andre Esterhuizen fills in for de Allende at inside centre.
'We've been experimenting with player combinations during the (July internationals) and at our conditioning camp in the last two weeks, and we believe this team will allow us to play the type of rugby we want to play against Australia,' Erasmus said.
'All of the starters except for Edwill have faced them before, and we are confident that he is ready for this challenge.'
Erasmus has opted for a 5-3 split between forwards and backs, another sign the Springboks intend to run the ball.
Australia, who flew to Johannesburg after a 2-1 series loss to the British and Irish Lions, will want to snap a four-match losing streak against South Africa. Coach Joe Schmidt will name his team on Aug 14.
Calling the Wallabies a 'physical and well-coached team', Erasmus said: 'We'll certainly not underestimate how much those performances (against the Lions), combined with their motivation to bounce back strongly against us after the last few results between the teams, and win their first match ever at Ellis Park, will inspire them.' AFP, REUTERS