Siya Kolisi will stride onto the hallowed turf of the Stade de France on Saturday night like a warrior reaching the summit of a mountain long climbed – marking his 100th Test for the Springboks.
The captain joins an elite club of Bok centurions as Rassie Erasmus, also hitting his own milestone with 50 Tests at the helm, sharpens his arsenal for a fierce French rematch under the Parisian lights.
It’s a double milestone moment for two men who have already carved their names into rugby folklore.
Both architects of back-to-back Rugby World Cup triumphs, Rugby Championship titles, and the British & Irish Lions Series victories.
Rassie Rings the Changes
Never one to leave his pack unpolished, Erasmus has made six changes to the side that outmuscled Japan last week.
- Boan Venter replaces the injured Ox Nche at loosehead.
- Thomas du Toit locks down the tighthead spot.
- Eben Etzebeth rejoins Lood de Jager in the engine room.
- Pieter-Steph du Toit returns to the flank.
- Damian Willemse starts at fullback, allowing Cheslin Kolbe to move to his natural home on the wing.
- RG Snyman drops to the bench, replaced in the run-on team by Venter.
Kolisi will once again lead a bruising loose trio featuring Du Toit and Jasper Wiese, the same combination that locked horns with Les Bleus in Marseille in 2022.
Behind the pack, Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will steer the ship, while the experienced Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel hold the midfield fort.
‘Best Suited to What We Expect from France’
“This is the team we feel is best suited to what we expect from France,” said Erasmus.
“Many of these guys have faced Les Bleus before, so they know exactly what it’s like to play in front of that passionate French crowd.”
On Kolisi’s historic moment, Erasmus added:
“This is a huge milestone for Siya, and we are all delighted for him. He’s level-headed and fully focused on the task. We’ll celebrate after the match, but hopefully with a win to make it even more special.”
French Fire Awaits
With France still nursing World Cup heartbreak, Saturday’s showdown in Paris promises to be a fiery collision, a cauldron of emotion and payback. Erasmus, however, insists his men are treating it as business as usual.
“France have quality across the park with good forwards, dangerous backs, and a crowd that will roar for 80 minutes,” he said.
“We know the magnitude of this match. The key is accuracy. we take our chances, stay composed, and fight from the first whistle to the last. It’s going to be another epic battle.”
Kick-off is at 22:10 (SA time), live on SuperSport Grandstand and Rugby channels.
Kolisi’s 100th in Numbers
| Milestone | Detail |
|---|---|
| Test Debut | vs Scotland, June 2013 |
| Tests as Captain | 72 |
| World Cups Won | 2 (2019 & 2023) |
| Trophies Lifted | Rugby Championship, British & Irish Lions Series |
| Total Tries | 14 |
| Rassie Erasmus Tests Coached | 50 |
| Springbok Centurions Before Kolisi | 8 |
Boks v France – Head-to-Head at a Glance
- Total Tests: 46
- Bok Wins: 28
- France Wins: 12
- Draws: 6
- Last Meeting: SA 29–28 France (RWC 2023 Quarter-final, Paris)
