Springboks move captain Kolisi to No 8 for Australia opener
The 34-year-old double Rugby World Cup winner, who makes his 94th Test appearance, is usually to be 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 last month.
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.
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.
"Cheslin has recovered from a niggle and trained with us last week, but we decided to exercise caution and give him extra time at training before selecting him," said Erasmus.
"Damian picked up a back niggle and will train this week, but Andre has been strong for us in the last few seasons, so it was an easy decision to name him alongside Jesse ."
Australia flew to Johannesburg after a 2-1 series loss to the British and Irish Lions. The Wallabies want to snap a four-match losing streak against South Africa and will name their team on Thursday.
Team
Aphelele Fassi; Edwill van der Merwe, Jesse Kriel, Andre Esterhuizen, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Manie Libbok, Grant Williams; Siya Kolisi , Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marco van Staden; Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth; Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche
Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Canan Moodie, Damian Willemse
Coach: Rassie Erasmus
dl/bsp
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
16 minutes ago
- Mint
Jayden's record-breaking spell ‘Seales' West Indies ODI series win against Pakistan after 34 years; here's what happened
If Shai Hope lifted West Indies with his 18th ODI ton, Jayden Seales did the star turn with the ball as West Indies scripted their first bilateral ODI series win over Pakistan after 34 years. Chasing 295 runs to win the third ODI and the series, Pakistan surrendered in front of Seales' 6/18 to be skittles out for paltry 92 in 29.2 overs on Tuesday. West Indies have earlier lost the first game before winning the rain-curtailed second game. The last time West Indies won an ODI series against Pakistan was in 1991. This series win will also help West Indies in their quest to earn a place in the 2027 ODI World Cup. With a huge total on the board to chase, Pakistan collapsed to Seales' early strikes with the scoreboard reading 23/4 in the ninth over, including three ducks - Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique and captain Mohammad Rizwan. The right-arm pacer grabbed his fourth by trapping Babar Azam (9) lbw. Hasan Nawaz (13), who made a statement with a fifty on ODI debut afew days back, was stumped against the bowling of Gudakesh Motie and Roston Chase bowled Hussain Talat (1), leaving Pakistan on 62/6 in the 21st over. Salman Agha did try to resist with a 49-ball 30, but the damage has been done by then. The match and series ended with another golden duck when Abrar Ahmed was run out by Chase.
India.com
16 minutes ago
- India.com
Roger Binny To Continue As BCCI President Till September As National Sports Bill Raises Age Limit To 75
In a twist that could reshape the leadership dynamics of Indian cricket, 1983 World Cup hero Roger Binny will continue as BCCI President at least until the board's Annual General Meeting (AGM) in September 2025, following the passage of the National Sports Bill in Parliament on Tuesday. The development raises the possibility of the former India all-rounder securing a fresh term — provided the state unit members and influential powerbrokers within the BCCI rally behind him. Also Read: Team India's Asia Cup 2025 Squad: Who Will Open India's Batting? Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, KL Rahul Or Yashasvi Jaiswal A New Age Limit That Extends Binny's Tenure Binny, who turned 70 last month, would have been ineligible to hold the top administrative post under the Supreme Court-approved BCCI constitution, which earlier capped the age limit for office bearers at 70. However, the National Sports Bill has now increased that ceiling to 75 years for officials of National Sports Federations — provided their global governing body, in this case the International Cricket Council (ICC), has no specific age restrictions. This legislative change means Binny's immediate exit is off the table. His presidency, which began in October 2022 when he replaced former captain Sourav Ganguly, will now extend at least until September. Whether he remains beyond that depends on political consensus within the BCCI. "Roger will continue till the board meeting in September. Whether he will get a fresh term depends on what members and other powerful people associated with the BCCI decide," a senior board source told PTI on condition of anonymity. BCCI Under National Sports Bill — But RTI Still Out of Bounds While the BCCI will now officially come under the ambit of the National Sports Bill, it remains outside the scope of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The exemption stems from the board's financial independence, as it does not receive government grants. The board's legal team has already begun dissecting the bill's fine print to gauge its implications. According to insiders, the discussion will not be limited to leadership tenure but will also involve broader policy implications. "The national sports bill has just been passed, so, we have some time to study it and engage in proper discussion before taking any decision," the source added. 2028 Olympics & the Bigger Picture One of the most significant talking points in these deliberations will be cricket's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This historic milestone demands meticulous planning and coordination between administrators, players, and coaching staff. "There are other points to discuss in the bill for sure, and all the stakeholders, including senior players and coaching staff, will be consulted, particularly because cricket will be played at the 2028 Olympics," the official said. With cricket's Olympic return, the role of the BCCI President becomes even more critical — encompassing not just domestic and ICC matters, but also strategic positioning on the global sporting stage. From World Cup Winner to Boardroom Leader Roger Binny's cricketing legacy remains a source of inspiration. As a key member of India's 1983 World Cup-winning squad, his swing bowling heroics remain etched in cricketing folklore. Since taking charge in October 2022, he has overseen several key decisions, from domestic cricket reforms to India's international scheduling. His presidency has coincided with a transformative phase in Indian cricket, marked by expanding revenues, increasing global influence, and growing debates over player workload and tournament formats. Decision Time in September While the National Sports Bill has opened the door for Binny to continue until 75, the final decision on a fresh term will rest with BCCI's state associations and influential stakeholders. The September AGM could thus become a pivotal moment — determining not just Binny's future, but also signaling the direction Indian cricket administration will take in the lead-up to the 2028 Olympics. If consensus emerges in his favour, Roger Binny could extend his innings as BCCI President, steering the world's richest cricket board through an era of unprecedented opportunity and scrutiny.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
New Low! Rashid Khan Makes Unwanted Record After Being Smacked For 26 Off 5 By...
Last Updated: Rashid Khan got smacked for 59 runs in 20 balls in the Hundred, his most expensive spell in all T20s. England and Birmingham Phoenix middle-order batter Liam Livingstone put up a performance worthy of giving nightmares to Oval Invincibles' Rashid Khan in the Hundred on Tuesday. As Rashid came to bowl a five-ball spell between the 76th to 80th balls of the Phoenix's chase in the game, Livingstone smacked three consecutive sixes with a boundary on each side of them. Rashid's speeds were down, and he couldn't get the lengths right, as the balls came loopily out of his hands, sitting up for Livingstone to play his favorite slog repeatedly. Livingstone remained unbeaten at 69 off 27 as Phoenix won the game by four wickets in 98 balls. Rashid, meanwhile, ended his 20-ball spell at 0/59. These were the worst figures of a 20-ball spell in the Hundred's history as well as the most expensive T20 spell (the Hundred is seen as T20 for statistical purposes) for Rashid. Watch Livingstone's 26-run assault here: Livingstone is the first batter to score over 200 T20 runs against Rashid, who's usually considered one of the best in the format. No other player has even breached the 150 mark. This is not new for Rashid. His form and consistency have dipped since his back surgery after the 2023 World Cup. He knows that, too, and recently admitted that it is because he rushed himself back, bowling 55 overs against Zimbabwe in a Test in Bulawayo. 'In T20s, it's fine – you can manage yourself – but for the longer formats, I was advised that you should be away from that format for some time. That is the kind of mistake I have made. But the team needed that. At that time, we had lost a few games in Test cricket, but that's something where I rushed myself a little bit, and I didn't give myself time and I felt it later on. Yes, I think I have done a mistake where my body was not allowing me that and I'm facing a problem. The thing is the stiffness in your back doesn't allow you to go with full rhythm." view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
