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The Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald
Kolisi breaks new ground at No 8 in Bok jersey
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will break new ground when he wears the No 8 jersey for the first time in a Test match when he packs down against Australia in Johannesburg on Saturday. After switching from his usual position on the flank for the Boks, Kolisi will be making his 94th Test appearance as he moves closer to becoming only the ninth player in SA history to earn 100 Test caps. Versatile Kolisi has played at No 8 for the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship, and it is a position he enjoys because it gives him more opportunities with ball in hand. He will line up in an exciting loose trio with flankers Pieter-Steph du Toit and Marco van Staden in SA's opening match in the Rugby Championship at Ellis Park (kickoff 5.10pm). The world champions are hunting their fifth successive victory against the Wallabies after defeating them in both Rugby Championship games in Australia last season and once each in 2023 and 2022. It will be a landmark clash for lock Eben Etzebeth, who will extend his record as the most capped Bok of all time to 134 matches. This will see him pass Ireland scrumhalf Conor Murray from joint-11th place in the order to joint 10th position with Welsh prop Gethin Jenkins. Bok coach Rassie Erasmus named an exciting backline, featuring a back-three of Aphelele Fassi and wings Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill Van der Merwe. Jesse Kriel will join forces with Andre Esterhuizen in the midfield after a niggle picked up by Damian de Allende. Manie Libbok and Grant Williams will team up at halfback in a combination full of exciting possibilities. 'We've been experimenting with player combinations during the Incoming Series 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. 'The Wallabies will be determined to change their win record against us in the last three seasons, so they'll come out guns blazing, and we are confident that the players we selected will be up for the challenge. 'All of the starters except for Edwill have faced them before, and we are confident that he is ready for this challenge. 'Damian picked up a back niggle in the last two weeks and will train again 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 in the midfield.' Erasmus said Cheslin Kolbe had recovered from a niggle, but it was decided to exercise caution and give him extra time at training before selecting him. 'Edwill has been in good form this season, and it will be good to see what he brings in this match,' he said. 'Australia showed they are on the right trajectory in their last two matches against the British and Irish Lions, and we have no doubt they will enter this match with confidence and determined to build on those performances. 'They are a physical and well-coached team, and we'll certainly not underestimate how much those performances, 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. 'That said, we have also been working hard to keep building on our game and improve, and we believe our two-week conditioning camp has placed us in the right frame of mind for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship. 'So hopefully we can transfer that hard work into our game to place ourselves in a good position to defend the title.' SA team: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi (capt), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Canan Moodie, 23 Damian Willemse. The Herald
France 24
5 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
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 © 2025 AFP
The Herald
13-06-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Erasmus building depth and experience while keeping an eye on 2027 World Cup
'That said, it doesn't mean those players are the only ones who will be in the mix this year. There are players who are returning from injury within the next few weeks and months and we would like to see some of the players who have been playing well get a chance this season.' With their opening match of the season against the Barbarians about two weeks away, Erasmus said the focus in the next two weeks and in the match will be to get their structures in place as they prepare for a challenging international season. 'It's difficult to plan around the Barbarians because they are a team consisting of players from many different countries, so our focus in that match will be our game and what we want to achieve,' he said. 'It will serve as a good opportunity for the players who have returned from Japan to get back into the swing of things and perhaps to give a few players who have not played Test rugby a feel of what it is to play at this level.' Erasmus also gave an injury update that Trevor Nyakane, Frans Malherbe, Deon Fourie, Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom are nursing long-term injuries. But Gerhard Steenekamp, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Ben-Jason Dixon, Augustus and Lukhanyo Am have to be cleared medically before they will be available for selection. Jasper Wiese, Grant Williams and Makazole Mapimpi, who are also carrying niggling injuries, are expected to return to action in the coming weeks.
