Ellis Park will thunder again on Saturday, but Siya Kolisi will stand in a new position at the heart of the noise wearing the No 8 jersey in a Test for the first time.
The double World Cup-winning captain moves from the flank to the scrum’s tail, hoping to steer the Springbok pack like a charioteer holding the reins of a warhorse in the Rugby Championship opener in Joburg.
He’s flanked by Pieter-Steph du Toit and Marco van Staden, forming a formidable loose trio forged for a high intensity battle at the breakdowns.
“We believe this team will allow us to play the type of rugby we want against Australia,” says Rassie Erasmus, who has named a side dripping with experience.
The team boasts 18 World Cup winners, three players with five caps or fewer, and Eben Etzebeth earning his 134th cap to move into joint-10th on the all-time list.
The backline is equally armed for attack: Aphelele Fassi at fullback, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe on the wings, Jesse Kriel and Andre Esterhuizen in midfield, and Manie Libbok with Grant Williams calling the shots.
What a way to start the week! Check out the #Springboks team to face Australia at Ellis Park on Saturday 🔥#ForeverGreenForeverGold
— Springboks (@Springboks) August 11, 2025
“We’ve been experimenting with player combinations during the July Tests and at our conditioning camp in the last two weeks, and we believe this team will allow us to play the type of game 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.”
Commenting on the niggle to De Allende, Erasmus said: “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 also clarified Cheslin Kolbe’s absence:
“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.”
Edwill van der Merwe has not faced the Wallabies before. Photo: SA Rugby/ Gallo Images
The Wallabies arrive buoyed by a 22-12 win over the British & Irish Lions, but history stands against them because they’ve never beaten South Africa at Ellis Park. Erasmus isn’t fooled:
“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,” he said.
“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 Rugby Championship. So hopefully we can transfer that hard work into our game to place ourselves in a good position to defend the title.”
For Kolisi, this shift is more than a number change. It’s a new vantage point in the battle, but he has fulfilled the role recently for the Sharks as the last man at the scrum and the first to charge when the gates open. If the Boks execute as planned, the Wallabies could find Ellis Park as unforgiving as the Highveld winter wind.
The SA team is:
South Africa: 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 (captain), 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.
Date: Saturday, August 16
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17.10 (15.10 GMT; 01:10, AEST, Sunday, August 17)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: James Doleman (New Zealand), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
TMO: Tual Trainini (France)
