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 (Kriel)."
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 (15-1)
Aphelele Fassi; Edwill van der Merwe, Jesse Kriel, Andre Esterhuizen, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Manie Libbok, Grant Williams; Siya Kolisi (capt), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marco van Staden; Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth; Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
Seema lauds Siwelele's winning start but urges more improvement
Coach Lehlohonolo Seema urges patience and improvement as Siwelele FC prepares for a tough away clash at Dobsonville Stadium after a confident Betway Premiership season opener. Photo; Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Siwelele FC coach Lehlohonolo Seema is pleased with how his side have started life in the Betway Premiership but warned that there is still a lot of work ahead. The team announced themselves in fine style with an impressive 3-1 victory over Golden Arrows at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in their season opener. Their next challenge takes them to Orbit College's temporary home at Dobsonville Stadium on Tuesday (7.30 pm kick-off), as the North West-based outfit remains unable to use the Olympia Park Stadium for late matches due to ongoing floodlight repairs. Seema, making his return to the top flight after parting ways with Sekhukhune United midway through last season, was pleased with his team's performance but insisted there is still room for improvement ahead of the away trip. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Coming up against the Mwenko Boys — who suffered a 1-0 defeat against AmaZulu in their first ever top-flight match — Seema believes no team will be easy to beat this season and that a lot needs fixing before his side can become the unit he envisions. However, he was happy with his players' contributions. 'We are playing away from home on Tuesday, it's not going to be easy, no game will be easy,' Seema said. 'Everybody knows that we are the new kids on the block. We are not saying anything, the only thing is that we have to collect as many points as we can. 'Some of the things here we are still trying to find each other, the players are still trying to understand what I want. We have won, I am happy, but there is still a lot of things that did not go right. "We can keep the ball better and make better decisions. The goal we conceded was a soft goal, we need to defend better and make sure the opponent doesn't sniff any opportunities. 'The goals, the way they came, it was exactly how we wanted. Our transitions were better but there is still room to improve, but credit must go to the players.' A win is a good thing for your first ever game. Welcome to the PSL. — Mr President (@KG_ZA2025) August 10, 2025 Having bought the status of Supersport United, Siwelele took over several players from that squad who flew under the radar last season. With new surroundings and leadership, they have come alive as the team transitions from empty stadiums to potentially packed home venues this campaign. Vincent Pule and Siviwe Magidigidi were the stand-out performers, not only getting on the scoresheet but impressing throughout the contest. Despite still needing time to build a well-oiled team, Seema also called for consistency from his side, especially in home matches where they enjoy some of the strongest support in the country.
IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
Wallabies feel battle-hardened by British and Irish Lions series ahead of Springboks
Australia hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa feels that facing the British & Irish Lions in a gruelling home series had helped prepare them for Saturday's opening Rugby Championship match against the Springboks at Ellis Park. Australia are coming off a confidence-boosting 22-12 victory in the final Test of a hard-fought series against the Lions that was preceded by a heartbreaking 29-26 defeat. The home team had lost the opener 27-19. 'We've built quite nicely over the Lions series and we're looking at continuing that momentum into this game, which is really important for us,' Paenga-Amosa said in an online media briefing ahead of the clash against the world champions. 'It's just building character and showing who we are, and continuing that momentum and going to another level in the TRC. We just want to build off the back of that last Lions game, essentially.' While being wary of placing the Boks on a pedestal, Paenga-Amosa feels their achievements command respect.
TimesLIVE
5 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Rassie explains Bok selection decisions that have raised eyebrows
Skipper Kolisi is playing at number eight instead of six, but there's a method to what may seem like madness Never afraid to make big calls that raise eyebrows, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has explained why he moved captain Siya Kolisi to number eight for the opening Test of the Rugby Championship match against Australia at Ellis Park on Saturday. With Kolisi — whose usual position is at six — at number eight, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Marco van Staden are the two flankers, and Erasmus has gone with the combination of Lood de Jager and Eben Etzebeth at lock. This will be the first time in Test rugby Kolisi plays at number eight and Erasmus is confident he will be full value as they look to start the campaign on a winning note. 'We actually changed our minds there. The more we practised and prepared for this Test match, [the more] we realised the only time a guy really plays at eight is [in] the scrums, and scrums probably happens 13 or 14 times in a game. 'But general play is probably the thing that happens the most, and having guys like Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marco van Staden and Siya on the field at the same time is good, because Australia are a big threat at the breakdown. Boks coach Rassie Erasmus explains Siya Kolisi positional switch. WATCH full press conference ➡️➡️➡️ — Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) August 11, 2025 'They bite hard at the breakdown and those three guys can clean out and we are going to need that. Siya is going to pack scrums and sometimes he might play flank and Marco at eight. '[Forwards] coach Daan [Human] is happy with the way he [has] us scrumming, but apart from that they will [be] crucial in general play. I said it a couple of weeks ago that Siya is a six and not an eight, but we came to the conclusion that it won't happen so much in the game where we need him there.' Erasmus also backed Manie Libbok ahead of Handrè Pollard and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and explained why he didn't pick a specialist flyhalf on the bench. 'Sasha and Handrè will probably play in Cape Town [next weekend] to spread the load. Not having a flyhalf on the bench, you know that Damian [Willemse] can play that position for us. 'The only time we really we swap flyhalves is if he is having an off day or missing kicks, but Manie has been slotting them really well. I think the new rhino ball must be making the difference because he is doing well. 'We felt we had to have cover at position 13 and with Damian de Allende having a niggle and only expected to be ready next week, we went with Canan [Moodie] on the bench. 'It was between Sasha and Handrè or Canan and because we don't have an out-and-out cover at 13, we do have a Damian [Willemse] as cover for [number] 10.' Erasmus also explained why he announced the squad on Monday. 'It is because we have been preparing for three weeks for Australia and that doesn't normally happen. What usually happens is after the incoming series, the next Test match is a little bit closer. 'Why we are announcing the squad on Monday is to get the speculation out of the way, and also for players to know who is playing so that we can focus on training well,' he said, adding there may be changes. 'If you look at the balance of their squad, they brought a lot of forwards on tour and we might change on Friday and bring RG [Snyman] back in the mix if they go with a six/two split on the bench. If they stay with five/three, which is pretty much their team, that will be it.'
