Siya Kolisi Cleared to Lead Springboks Against All Blacks in Cape Town

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that captain Siya Kolisi has passed all medical and fitness protocols and will start at openside flanker against the All Blacks in Saturday’s second Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.

Having initially bracketed Kolisi alongside young loose forward Paul de Villiers during Monday’s team announcement to assess his recovery from a lingering hamstring strain, Erasmus confirmed Kolisi ran at top speed without discomfort. De Villiers subsequently falls out of the matchday 23.

With Kolisi reclaiming both the No. 6 shirt and the captaincy, flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit hands back leadership duties to focus on his historic 100th Test appearance for South Africa.

Springbok Squad Details & Milestones

The starting XV brings together an unprecedented total of 1,012 Test caps, setting a new record for the most experienced line-up ever fielded in Springbok history.

• Pieter-Steph du Toit Centenary: Du Toit becomes the 11th Springbok to achieve 100 Test caps, following midfield powerhouse Damian de Allende who reached the milestone last week.
• Ox Nche’s 50th: Loosehead prop Ox Nche earns his 50th Test cap starting in the front row.
• Eben Etzebeth Record: The veteran lock extends his record as South Africa’s most-capped player of all time to 144 caps.
• Deon Fourie’s Return: Named among the replacements, 39-year-old Fourie returns for his first Test since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final victory over the All Blacks, becoming the oldest player to wear the Green and Gold.