By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will make his first international appearance for South Africa in 2025 against Georgia in Mbombela on Saturday.
Kolisi makes his first appearance at openside flank having recovered from neck and Achilles niggles, with Cobus Wiese named at No 8 in the absence of his brother, Jasper, who was on Tuesday handed a four-match suspension.
Yet more new caps will be awarded this July, with completely uncapped front-row comprising Edinburgh loosehead Boan Venter, Scarlets hooker Marnus van der Merwe and Stormers tighthead Neethling Fouche.
The three uncapped front rankers will increase the number of newly capped players this season to seven after Wiese, Vincent Tshituka, Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Ethan Hooker all made their Test debuts against Italy.
There are only five survivors from last week’s starting lineup and eight in total from the match 23 that beat Italy 45-0 in Port Elizabeth.
The inclusion of Kolisi and Venter, meanwhile, increases the size of the group used by Rassie Erasmus so far this season to 46 players, with the match 23 featuring 15 World Cup winners.
Edwill van der Merwe, Canan Moodie, Grant Williams, Pieter-Steph du Toit and lock Ruan Nortje retain their places in the starting lineup, while Wiese and flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu are promoted from the bench.
Erasmus named a five-three bench, where props Thomas du Toit and Vincent Koch and hooker Bongi Mbonambi will serve as the impact front row, along with lock RG Snyman and loose forward Kwagga Smith.
Faf de Klerk, Handre Pollard and Damian Willemse provide backline cover.
“We wanted to make sure that Siya is 100% fit before selecting him, so it’s great to have him back in the squad, while Boan, Marnus, and Neethling have been training hard and deserve their chance,” said Erasmus.
“Marnus and Neethling played against the Barbarians, so they have an idea of what international rugby is about, while Boan has shown great potential at club level and with the squad in the last few weeks, and we are looking forward to seeing him play.
“Building squad depth has been one of our pillars as a squad since 2018, and they are all undoubtedly ready to make the step-up.”
Regarding his team selection, Erasmus said: “We know how passionate and intense this Georgian side is, and they will be determined to make a strong statement, so we selected some experienced players who we would like to get more game time before the Rugby Championship, and a few of the younger players, who have put up their hands another run, so we are pleased with the balance we have in this group.”
The Boks may have won the two matches they’ve played against Georgia – the last of which was in 2021 before the British & Irish Lions series – but Erasmus insisted they would not underestimate the visitors.
“Georgia are a tough outfit, and they pride themselves on their physicality and brute force in the collisions, so the set pieces, mauls, and breakdowns will be key areas.
SPRINGBOKS – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Cobus Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Boan Venter.
Bench: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Damian Willemse.