Siya Kolisi has been declared fit to captain the Springboks on their two-match tour of New Zealand in the Rugby Championship, with South Africa chasing their first Eden Park win in 88 years. Kolisi sat out the Cape Town clash against Australia, which the Springboks won 30-22, but has recovered in time for the crucial away leg.
Other players returning to the squad include Pieter-Steph du Toit, Willie le Roux, and Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who were unavailable for the last match. Makazole Mapimpi is back in the mix, while Jasper Wiese will be available only for the Wellington test as he completes a suspension.
The Springboks face the All Blacks in Auckland on September 6 before moving on to Wellington. With Argentina also in the mix, all four teams have one win from two matches, keeping the championship title race wide open.
Coach Rassie Erasmus emphasised the squad’s progress, saying the team has learned key lessons from their early fixtures and is ready to rise to the challenge. The team departs for New Zealand on Tuesday to begin preparations, with their first test scheduled for 7.05pm local time on September 6.
Team list
Forwards: Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Thomas du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Marnus van der Merwe, Marco van Staden, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Jasper Wiese
Backs: Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Makazole Mapimpi, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg, Grant Williams, Damian Willemse
What it means and outlook
– Kolisi’s return provides essential leadership and on-field intensity as South Africa targets a landmark result at Eden Park, a venue that has long proven difficult for the Springboks.
– The squad’s broader rotation, including rest for several veterans in recent games and a focus on building depth ahead of the 2027 World Cup, reflects Erasmus’s ongoing strategy to prepare a larger pool of players for future challenges.
– With a tightly contested title race and both New Zealand and Argentina hungry for wins, the two-match tour promises to be a telling test of how quickly the Springboks can gel under pressure on the road.
Summary
Siya Kolisi’s fitness boosts South Africa’s chances as they head to New Zealand for a two-test series, aiming to break a long Eden Park drought and strengthen their position in a tight Rugby Championship. The squad’s returnees and strategic depth give the Springboks options to adapt to a challenging environment and push for success away from home.
Positive note
The renewed energy from Kolisi’s leadership, Mapimpi’s return, and the depth Erasmus has cultivated could help South Africa deliver a confident performance in Auckland and Wellington, reinforcing their potential to challenge for the title later in the competition.
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