Erasmus Unveils Power-Packed Springbok Line-Up for Wallabies Clash at Ellis Park
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has named a formidable squad for South Africa’s opening Castle Lager Rugby Championship fixture against Australia at Ellis Park on Saturday. The matchday 23 boasts 18 Rugby World Cup winners, while just one player made his Test debut during the recent Castle Lager Incoming Series.
Among the squad, only three players have five caps or fewer – versatile forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels, explosive wing Edwill van der Merwe, and prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, who earned his first Test cap against Italy in July.
The Boks will be eyeing a fifth straight win over the Wallabies, having beaten them twice in Australia last year and once each in 2023 and 2022.
Saturday’s clash will also be a milestone for lock Eben Etzebeth, who will extend his record as the most capped Springbok of all time with 134 appearances. His achievement will move him up the world rankings to joint-10th place alongside Welsh prop Gethin Jenkins.
Erasmus has gone with a dynamic backline, featuring Aphelele Fassi at fullback, wings Kurt-Lee Arendse and Van der Merwe, while Jesse Kriel links up with Andre Esterhuizen in midfield following Damian de Allende’s minor back issue. Manie Libbok and Grant Williams will control proceedings at flyhalf and scrumhalf.
Captain Siya Kolisi will start at No. 8 for the first time in his Test career, joining Pieter-Steph du Toit and Marco van Staden in a powerful loose trio. Etzebeth partners Lood de Jager in the second row, with Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, and Wilco Louw packing down in the front row.
On the bench, Erasmus has opted for a five-three split. Front row reinforcements include Bongi Mbonambi, Wessels, and Ntlabakanye, while Franco Mostert and Kwagga Smith provide versatility in the pack. The backline depth comes from Cobus Reinach, Canan Moodie, and Damian Willemse.
“We’ve been experimenting with player combinations during the Castle Lager 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,” said Erasmus.
“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.”
On De Allende’s absence, Erasmus added:
“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.”
He also gave an update on Cheslin Kolbe:
“Cheslin has also 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. Edwill has been in good form this season, and it will be good to see what he brings in this match.”
Australia, who recently edged the British & Irish Lions 22–12 after a narrow 29–26 loss in their opening Test, will enter the match with renewed belief. Erasmus acknowledged the challenge ahead:
“Australia showed that they are on the right trajectory in their last two matches against the British & 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.”
Springbok Matchday 23 vs Australia – Ellis Park
Starting XV
15. Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 12 caps, 35 pts
14. Edwill van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 3 caps, 25 pts
13. Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 80 caps, 95 pts
12. Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 20 caps
11. Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 26 caps, 100 pts
10. Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners) – 20 caps, 108 pts
9. Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 19 caps, 25 pts
8. Siya Kolisi (c) (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 93 caps, 60 pts
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz) – 88 caps, 60 pts
6. Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 27 caps, 15 pts
5. Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 67 caps, 25 pts
4. Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 133 caps, 35 pts
3. Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 18 caps
2. Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 78 caps, 115 pts
Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 41 caps
Replacements
16. Bongi Mbonambi – 79 caps, 70 pts
17. Jan-Hendrik Wessels – 5 caps, 10 pts
18. Asenathi Ntlabakanye – 1 cap
19. Franco Mostert – 79 caps, 20 pts
20. Kwagga Smith – 53 caps, 45 pts
21. Cobus Reinach – 40 caps, 70 pts
22. Canan Moodie – 14 caps, 35 pts
23. Damian Willemse – 41 caps, 61 pts
Fast Facts & Stats
- Should the Boks win, it will be their first five-match winning streak against the Wallabies in over 50 years (1969–71).
- Eben Etzebeth extends his Springbok record to 134 Tests, moving into the top 10 most-capped players in world rugby.
- Siya Kolisi edges closer to his 100th cap, needing just six more appearances.
- The Boks remain unbeaten against the Wallabies at Ellis Park.
- Combined, the Bok starting XV boasts 725 Test caps – 545 among forwards and 180 in the backline.