
BREAKING: Siya Kolisi returns for Springboks
Venter, who was called up to the squad in June as injury cover at prop, will start in a completely new front row with fellow prop Fouche and hooker Van der Merwe, who both had their first taste of Springbok rugby in the team's 54-7 victory against the Barbarians.
Meanwhile, Kolisi features in a loose trio with Pieter-Steph du Toit and Cobus Wiese after missing the last three matches due to niggles.
The three uncapped front rankers will increase the number of newly capped players this season to seven after Vincent Tshituka (flanker), Wiese, Asenathi Ntlabakanye (prop), and Ethan Hooker (utility back) all made their Test debuts against Italy.
Erasmus' team features only five players who started last week, and eight in total from the match-23 that defeated Italy 45-0 in Gqeberha.
The inclusion of Kolisi and Venter in the squad, meanwhile, increases the size of the group used by Erasmus so far this season to 46 players, with the matchday squad featuring 15 Rugby World Cup winners.
The five players who retained their places in the starting lineup are Edwill van der Merwe (wing), Canan Moodie (utility back), Grant Williams (scrumhalf), Du Toit, and Ruan Nortje (lock), while Conus Wiese and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (flyhalf) are promoted from the bench to starting team, with Thomas du Toit (prop) starting among the replacements.
Edwill van der Merwe, who scored two tries in his second match in the green and gold last week, has been named in a playmaking back three with Kurt-Lee Arendse and Aphelele Fassi, while Moodie joins forces with Damian de Allende in the midfield, and Williams pairs up with Feinberg-Mngomezulu at halfback.
Up front, apart from a new-look front row and rejigged loose trio, Eben Etzebeth will link up with Ruan Nortje in the engine room.
Kick off on Saturday is at 17:10.
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)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The South African
10 hours ago
- The South African
Paarl Gimnasium vs Paarl Boys' High: Kick-off time CONFIRMED
Paarl will come to a standstill this weekend when Paarl Gimnasium and Paarl Boys' High do battle to determine South Africa's No 1 rugby school in 2025. Both sides have had stellar seasons to date and stand head-and-shoulders above every other school in the country. But they haven't faced one another. Yet. That will all change on Saturday, 2 August at Faure Street Stadium in Paarl when, if reports are to be believed, somewhere between 20 000 and 25 000 spectators are expected. Old boys from both schools are said to be flying in from around the world to attend. Kick-off has been confirmed for 16:00 and the match will be screened live on SuperSport channel 216. Meanwhile, for those interested, the First XI hockey match between the two schools will take place on the Paarl Gimnasium Astro on Saturday, 2 August at 10:30. In terms of the number of Springboks produced by each school, Paarl Gimnasium lead 31-26. The last Paarl Gimnasium Springbok was John Grobbelaar (#939 – out of 952), while Paarl Boys' High's most recent green and gold old boy was Cameron Hanekom (#945). Both schools boast a who's-who of Springbok old boys from Jan Pickard, Jean de Villiers, Schalk Burger (senior and junior), Kobus Wiese and Handre Pollard (all Paarl Gimnasium) to Boy Louw, Ryk van Schoor, Mannetjies Roux, Carel du Plessis, Corne Krige, Frans Malherbe and Thomas du Toit (all Paarl Boys' High). The result is a coin flip. All we hope is that the weather stays fair, the referee doesn't try steal the limelight – and you don't miss the match! Springboks Date of birth Japie Le Roux 21 Aug 1882 Boy de Villiers 1 May 1884 Pietie le Roux 22 Jan 1885 Tommy Thompson 4 Oct 1886 Stevie Joubert 8 Apr 1887 Attie van Heerden 10 Mar 1898 Manus de Jongh 10 Oct 1902 Pierre de Villiers 14 Jun 1905 Pieter Morkel 1 Jul 1905 JC van der Westhuizen 22 Nov 1905 Jan Pickard 25 Dec 1927 Hugo van Zyl 20 Aug 1932 Wynand Mans 21 Feb 1942 Schalk (snr) Burger 6 Oct 1955 Kobus Burger 31 Mar 1964 Kobus Wiese 16 May 1964 Balie Swart 18 May 1964 Mornay Visser 30 Mar 1969 Pieter Rossouw 3 Dec 1971 Louis Koen 7 Jul 1975 Chris Rossouw 14 Nov 1976 De Wet Barry 24 Jun 1978 Marius Joubert 10 Jul 1979 Jean de Villiers 24 Feb 1981 Schalk (jnr) Burger 13 Apr 1983 Ashley Johnson 16 May 1986 Lourens Adriaanse 5 Feb 1988 Louis Schreuder 25 Apr 1990 Handré Pollard 11 Mar 1994 Grant Williams 22 Jul 1996 Johan Grobbelaar 30 Dec 1997 Springboks Date of birth Louis Louw 23 Jun 1884 Cocky Hahn 7 Jan 1886 Dirkie de Villiers 20 Jul 1889 Theuns Kruger 17 Jun 1896 Champion Myburgh 10 Oct 1897 Jack Bester 6 Oct 1898 Manie Geere 9 Sep 1905 Boy Louw 21 Feb 1906 Fanie Louw 16 Sep 1909 Ben du Toit 10 Nov 1912 Ryk van Schoor 3 Dec 1921 Theuns Briers 11 Jul 1929 Piet du Toit 9 Oct 1935 Mannetjies Roux 12 Apr 1939 Haas Schoeman 15 Mar 1940 Carel du Plessis 24 Jun 1960 Corné Krige 21 Mar 1975 Wium Basson 23 Oct 1975 Gürthro Steenkamp 12 Jun 1981 Frans Malherbe 14 Mar 1991 Thomas du Toit 5 May 1995 Salmaan Moerat 6 Mar 1998 Evan Roos 21 Jan 2000 Quan Horn 27 Jun 2001 Cameron Hanekom 10 May 2002 Ruan Venter 29 Nov 2002 Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.


The South African
11 hours ago
- The South African
Springbok Women gear up for one last rodeo before World Cup
The Springbok Women have made several changes for their last game before the Rugby World Cup, with key players returning from injury and rotation in Saturday's clash against the Black Ferns XV in Athlone. Experienced campaigners Ayanda Malinga, Danelle Lochner and Lindelwa Gwala will return to the Springbok Women match-23 for Saturday's second international friendly against the Black Ferns XV as Swys de Bruin again tweaked combinations for their final match before the Rugby World Cup in England next month. Malinga, a try-scorer against Canada in Gqeberha three weeks ago, returns to the left wing after being declared fit following a shoulder strain, while Lochner, who also played in that match, recovered from a facial fracture to run out at Athlone Stadium this weekend. Lindelwa Gwala, the Springbok Women's most experienced hooker with 35 Test caps, returns after she missed both Tests against Canada. Byrhandré Dolf is another to return to the starting team after sitting out the first match against the New Zealand side due to a niggle, while De Bruin again opted for new combinations in several other positions. Amongst those are Nadine Roos, who will return to scrumhalf where she will partner with flyhalf Libbie Janse van Rensburg, and in the midfield, where Aphiwe Ngwevu – who came off the bench last weekend – will combine with Zintle Mpupha for the first time this year. Sinazo Mcatshulwa is also back at her preferred position of blindside flanker after coming off the bench last weekend, while loosehead prop Yonela Ngxingolo gets a rare start, having played off the bench 14 times in her last 16 appearances. The 27-year-old started in 13 consecutive Tests earlier in her career, before being moved to the bench as a super sub who can pack down on both sides of the scrum. Unam Tose and Xoliswa Khuzwayo are the only players on the bench who did not play in Athlone last weekend. Tose did face Canada off the bench in Gqeberha, while Khuzwayo started all three matches in Madagascar during the Rugby Africa Women's Cup. 'These are the last tweaks – some were forced by niggles, as we could again not consider Nolusindiso Booi and Sizophila Solontsi, while Chumisa Qawe was also replaced due to medical advice,' said De Bruin. 'The other switches are to make sure we have a squad full of players with enough game time before we leave for England.' With Booi on the sidelines, Babalwa Latsha will again lead the team on the field, with Janse van Rensburg as her deputy. 'We were boosted by the second half performance last weekend, but that is in the past and we approach this one with a different team and some tweaks in the game plan,' said De Bruin. 'I would like to see the team play with more freedom on attack, but that focus area will only bring results if we finish our lead-up play. We are so close to combining all the good things we do, and this is the final opportunity to get it right before the trip to England. 'We must finish all the good things we start, that is a non-negotiable.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.


The South African
11 hours ago
- The South African
Springboks shift gears as Rugby Championship looms
Rassie Erasmus lauded his the Springboks' first week of conditioning camp in Johannesburg ahead of the upcoming Rugby Championship. The Springboks concluded the first block of their Rugby Championship conditioning camp in Johannesburg on Thursday, earning coach Rassie Erasmus's approval. The players will spend the weekend with their families before reporting back for duty on Sunday. The first of their two-week camp included intense field and gym sessions, as well as strategic boardroom discussions. Erasmus emphasised that this preparation is vital ahead of a demanding championship featuring South Africa's greatest southern hemisphere rivals. 'We had an intense week of conditioning to get the players ready for a challenging campaign,' he said. 'We wanted players to shift mindset in preparation for different contests against Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina.' The players targeted specific areas needing improvement following the mid-year Incoming Series against Italy and Georgia. Erasmus noted that those concerns were now integrated into the training blocks. He added that Australia's recent performances against the British & Irish Lions showed their strength and that the Springboks must prepare both mentally and physically. Next week's focus will shift towards tactical preparation. The coaches plan to model opposition patterns and explore strategies to counter Australia's recent style of play. The Wallabies should arrive battle-hardened from their Lions tour, meaning the Springboks expect a high-intensity contest in the first two Tests, in Johannesburg on 16 August and Cape Town on 23 August respectively. Following South Africa's matches with Australia, the Springboks face New Zealand in back-to-back Tests in Auckland and Wellington on 6 and 13 September. They wrap up the championship with fixtures against Argentina in Durban on 27 September and London on 4 October. Erasmus also defended the inclusion of three stars from South Africa's U20 World Cup-winning squad, Pead, Hlekani, and Jooste, in the senior camp. He said that exposing young talent to top-level environments helps develop squad depth ahead of the 2027 World Cup. Overall, Erasmus called the first week a success, saying: 'We laid a good foundation. From next week, we'll focus more on what to expect from Australia.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.