Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has never been one to load his starting XV with caution. He’s more of a rugby alchemist, blending youth and experience like a scrummaging sorcerer in pursuit of the perfect potion. And this Saturday, in the lowveld cauldron of Nelspruit, he’s done it again—unleashing three debutants into the furnace against a Georgian pack known for scrumming like they’re trying to push tectonic plates.
Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouché are the new kids on the Bok block—uncapped, unshackled, and now unleased into a Test arena as raw and ruthless as a front-row arm wrestle at altitude.
They form a greenhorn trio so fresh, their jerseys might still smell like fabric softener. But this is no schoolyard initiation. This is Test rugby, where every ruck is a fistfight in a phone booth and every scrum a street brawl with etiquette.
Venter, a bullish loosehead who was summoned in June as injury cover, gets his first cap alongside van der Merwe and Fouché, both of whom had their appetisers against the Barbarians. Now comes the main course – beefy Georgian opposition who treat the set piece like a sacred ritual.
Kolisi Returns, Wearing the Crown Again
But the headlines won’t stop at the front row. South Africa’s spiritual compass and rugby talisman, Siya Kolisi, returns to lead the troops after nursing an aching Achilles and a neck niggle that had fans holding their breath like it was the final minutes of a World Cup final.
Siya Kolisi Pic: Instagram
“We wanted to make sure that Siya is 100% fit before selecting him, so it’s great to have him back in the squad,” Erasmus said, the relief in his voice palpable.
Kolisi slots into his familiar openside flank jersey – the same one he wore while lifting the Webb Ellis trophy in 2019 and 2023. His presence is less of a selection and more of a signal: the Boks are rearming.
He’s joined in the loose trio by Cobus Wiese—called into No. 8 duty with his brother Jasper suspended for four games—and the ever-industrious Pieter-Steph du Toit, who hits breakdowns like a wrecking ball wearing shoulder pads.
“They Deserve Their Chance” – The Rassie Way
Erasmus isn’t handing out debuts like candy at a school fête. These rookies have earned their green and gold the hard way—in the engine room of club rugby and on the training field where Bok dreams are forged.
“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,” Erasmus explained.
“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.”
And that pillar has never looked sturdier. With 46 players already rotated through the system this season, including seven debutants, Erasmus is reshaping his arsenal ahead of the Rugby Championship with the precision of a master tactician rearranging chess pieces before the final attack.
Balance of Youth and Brawn
The starting XV is a careful cocktail: 15 World Cup winners on the team sheet, but only five survivors from the group that annihilated Italy 45-0 last weekend in Gqeberha. The backline remains full of bite—Aphelele Fassi returns at fullback, and speed demons like Edwill van der Merwe, Canan Moodie, and Kurt-Lee Arendse offer the kind of finishing flair that turns half-chances into highlight reels.
Grant Williams starts at scrumhalf with the versatile Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu steering the ship from flyhalf. The rest of the bench is a powder keg ready to explode: Thomas du Toit, Vincent Koch and Bongi Mbonambi in the front row trenches, RG Snyman and Kwagga Smith as the bruisers, and a lethal trio of Faf de Klerk, Handré Pollard, and Damian Willemse to light up the final quarter.
Grant Williams and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will link up in the Springbok half-back pairing for the first time this weekend ✨⚡️#SSRugby pic.twitter.com/fu9lMKn9Tk
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 15, 2025
Georgia: Not Just Cannon Fodder
While Georgia has twice fallen to the Springboks—including a 2021 encounter before the Lions series—Erasmus isn’t entertaining any thoughts of complacency.
“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,” Erasmus warned.
“They also have quality backline players to round off their team, so we need to be sharp in all departments of our game to ensure that we continue to lift our standards, build momentum, and get the desired result.”
If the Boks underestimate the Lelos, they’ll find themselves neck-deep in a wrestling match with men who treat scrums like national ceremonies and tackles like political statements. But with Kolisi’s fire, the rookies’ hunger, and Erasmus’ relentless drive to sharpen every tool in the shed, South Africa seems poised for another show of strength.
Match 23 – A Blend of Steel and Spark
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.
Georgia: Davit Niniashvili, Aka Tabutsadze, Giorgi Kveseladze, Sandra Todua, Luka Matkava, Vasil Lobzhanidze, Ilia Spanderashvili, Beka Saginadze, Luka Ivanishvili, Lado Chachanidze, Mikheil Babunashvili, Irakli Aptsiauri, Vano Karkadze, Vano Karkadze. Bench: Irakli Kvatadze, Giorgi Tetrashvili, Beka Gigashvili, Demur Epremidze, Sandro Mamamtavrishvili, Tornike Jalagonia, Tedo Abzhandadze, Tornike Kakhoidz.
