Springbok Watch: Players in the Spotlight v Australia at Ellis Park

Eben Etzebeth

The Bok enforcer loves playing against the Wallabies and always brings a bit of extra edge to the occasion. Saturday’s showdown will be no different, especially with big Will Skelton coming off colossal performances in the British & Irish Lions series.

At 2.03m and 135kg, Skelton is a mountain of a man who brings much-needed power, physicality, and mongrel to the Wallabies pack, and much rests on his shoulders whether or not the visitors will be able to front up against the back-to-back world champions.

For Etzebeth, it’s time to go big game hunting. Tasked with leading the physical charge for their respective teams, these two giants are on a collision course, and chances are they’ll get stuck into each other early.

The clash will also see Etzebeth extend his record as the most-capped Bok of all time to 134 Tests, and move into joint-10th place on the all-time global list alongside Welsh legend Gethin Jenkins.

Siya Kolisi

Twelve years into his decorated Test career, the two-time World Cup-winning Bok captain will wear the Green and Gold No. 8 jersey for the first time.

Kolisi has played all 93 of his Tests to date on the flank, but with Cameron Hanekom and Elrigh Louw out injured, and Jasper Wiese serving a suspension, the 34-year-old will shift to the back of the scrum.

No stranger to the position, Kolisi killed it in the role for the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship, showing his underrated speed and ball skills and running in seven tries.

He’s not the big, bruising eighthman Rassie Erasmus typically picks, but he’s a powerful ball carrier in his own right, which, coupled with his athleticism, makes him an exciting option, especially against the Wallabies.

Manie Libbok

Having dropped to third in the Bok pivot pecking order behind Handre Pollard and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Libbok’s inclusion in the starting line-up came as a surprise.

The Japan-bound playmaker is a joy to watch in his element as he has an electrifying skillset with which he can slice and dice even the best of defences, but he’s also inconsistent and not as dependable off the tee as the aforementioned duo.

To be fair, he had a cracking cameo in the season-opening game against the Barbarians, landing all his kicks at goal, and was good in the second encounter against Italy, too, slotting five out of seven to pass the 100-point milestone in Test rugby.

As the only specialist flyhalf in the matchday 23, he’ll want to show Rassie Erasmus that he can be relied upon to deliver in all aspects of his role.

Andre Esterhuizen

The hybrid, who has helped out on the flank this season, gets a second start in his regular position of inside centre in 2025, with Damian de Allende not being 100%.

“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 said on Monday.

Esterhuizen started in the 45-0 whitewash of Italy in Gqeberha but had to join the forwards at scrum time after Jasper Wiese’s red card, so this is an opportunity for the midfield monster to do what he does best.

Edwill van der Merwe

Van der Merwe was one of the big winners of the Incoming Series. The diminutive winger played his socks off and proved he belonged at the highest level, so much so that he solved a problem for Erasmus.

“Cheslin (Kolbe) 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,” the Bok coach said, adding, “Edwill has been in good form this season, and it will be good to see what he brings in this match.”

Fans should keep a keen eye on the pint-sized predator as he could become the first Bok in history to score in each of his first four Tests.