Kolisi Back But Won’t Captain Boks In Eden Park Showdown

The two-time World Cup-winning skipper missed the 30-22 Round Two win over the Wallabies due to a knee injury he suffered in the shock 38-22 loss against the Australians a week earlier, but was on Thursday included in the starting line-up to face the old foe at No. 8.

He won’t, however, captain the team, with Jesse Kriel set to lead out the defending champions.

“Siya was touch and go for the match earlier in the week after picking up a niggle a few weeks ago, and we didn’t want to risk him unnecessarily, but with Jean-Luc du Preez having picked up a niggle at training this week, Siya was the obvious choice to slot in at No 8,” said Erasmus.

“At that stage, Jesse had already been told he would be the captain, and it was only fair for us to keep things that way. He’s a great leader and one of the core players in our team. His communication with the referee and his teammates is good, and he leads by example in the way he plays, so he deserves this opportunity.

“It will also be a big occasion for him to captain the team against the All Blacks for the first time, so we are proud of Jesse, and we know he’ll carry this responsibility with great pride,” he added.

Erasmus has made only four changes to the starting team that beat the Wallabies in Cape Town. South Africa’s most experienced player, Eben Etzebeth, and Ruan Nortje form a new lock partnership, with Pieter-Steph du Toit back from injury at blindside flank.

The only change in the backline is at fullback, where Willie le Roux will start his 101st Test after being forced to withdraw from the last clash against the Wallabies due to a niggle.

Erasmus had made a couple of surprising calls on the bench, starting with the composition, as he’s opted for a five-three split instead of the expected six-two Bomb Squad.

He’s also opted for utility forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels to cover hooker ahead of specialist Marnus van der Merwe, and has included utility back Ethan Hooker in place of Andre Esterhuizen.

Fast facts:

• The Springboks will go in search of their fifth victory in a row against the All Blacks when the teams meet at Eden Park, after winning their last four matches against their arch-rivals and clinching the Freedom Cup against them last season for the first time since 2009.
• The Springboks’ longest winning streak against the All Blacks was six matches in a row between 1937 and 1949.
• The last time the Springboks defeated the All Blacks at Eden Park was in 1937 – a long-standing record they will be determined to end this weekend – while at the same time ending the hosts’ winning run at the ground since 1994.
• Lock Eben Etzebeth will extend his record as the most capped Bok of all time to 136 Tests.
• Siya Kolisi will play his 95th Test match, leaving him only five matches short of becoming the ninth Springbok centurion in the history of the game.
• Willie le Roux will earn his 101st Test match after striking the 100th mark against Italy in Gqeberha in the Castle Lager Incoming Series earlier this year.
• The centre pairing of Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende will extend their record of playing the most Tests together in the midfield to 39.
• Jesse Kriel will lead the Springboks for the third time in a Test after taking charge of the team against Italy in the Incoming Series in July and Australia in their last Championship match in Cape Town.
• The total Test caps in the Springbok starting line-up is 939 – the fourth highest combined total in SA rugby history.
• There are 434 caps in the backline, with 505 caps among the forwards. On the bench, there are a further 206 caps.
• The average caps per player in the backline is 62, the forwards 63, while the players on the bench average 26.

South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel (captain), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staten, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.

Replacement: 16 Jan Hendrik Wessels, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Ethan Hooker.