Boks load up big guns for first Italy Test as Willemse returns and Kriel captains

Despite captaining the Springboks against the Barbarians last week, Jesse Kriel will officially become Springbok captain No 67 when he leads the team out in the first Test against Italy at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Siya Kolisi has not sufficiently recovered from a tender Achilles tendon, and even if he had, he might have sat out.

Coach Rassie Erasmus made a telling remark when naming the team to face the Azzurri, suggesting that few players would appear in more than eight of the Boks’ 13 Tests this year.

He also opted against making lock Eben Etzebeth captain, even though he has led the side in 14 Tests. That’s partly because Etzebeth is unlikely to play the full 80 minutes while Kriel, barring injury, certainly will.

It’s also an endorsement of Kriel’s massive status among his peers and a recognition of his brilliant contributions to the team, both on and off the field.

The muscular 31-year-old centre is one of the fittest players in the team and is showing no signs of letting his standards and performances dip. He leads by example in the gym, in training and in matches, but he also has a wealth of technical and tactical nous as the leader of the defence.

“Siya just had a stiff neck [last week], which was nothing serious, and that’s all cleared up now,” said Erasmus.

“But he had a bit of a stiff Achilles. So, we just want to make sure. Overall, I don’t think there’s a player that will play more than eight or nine matches for us this year.

“If one goes through this team, there are so many leaders, and we were impressed with how Jesse accepted the responsibility of wearing the captain’s armband last week. He is a player who leads by example on and off the field, and he thoroughly deserves this honour.”

Changes

Erasmus rang the changes, reverting to a menacing-looking outfit for the first serious challenge of 2025.

Of the four new players who appeared for the Boks against the Barbarians during the 54-7 win at DHL Stadium, only flank Vincent Tshituka retains his place.

Erasmus was impressed with his work rate, although the coach did add that “he’s not as physical as Pieter-Steph du Toit”, and would have to up that aspect of his game this weekend.

To be fair to Tshituka, there are few players on the planet, if any, who are as physical as Du Toit. But it was a good way to motivate the 26-year-old Sharks flank, especially as Du Toit will be back in the selection mix for the second Test.

“If you take the two tries away [which Tshituka scored against the Barbarians] and look at his work rate, he was exceptional for a blindside flank,” said Erasmus.

“He was almost in the ... I wouldn’t say it was in the physicality of Pieter-Steph, I think he must still up the physicality to Test-match level, but his work rate was phenomenal. And the more Tests he plays, the better he’ll get.”

Handré Pollard returns to flyhalf after a two-week break since playing in the Premiership final for the English club Leicester, adding to the wealth of experience in the squad, which averages more than 50 Tests per player.

Fullback Damian Willemse makes his return to Test rugby, having last played in the final of Rugby World Cup 2023. An injury-plagued 2024 kept the versatile and dynamic Willemse out of the game for long periods last year.

And lock Lood de Jager is back in a Test for the first time in two years after a series of injuries and health issues. He played against the Barbarians last week and delivered a thunderous performance.

De Jager joins Etzebeth in the second row from the start, reuniting their partnership that started more than a decade ago.

Spare a thought for the Italian pack. They will have to contend with De Jager and Etzebeth, and then the Boks will throw on RG Snyman and Franco Mostert later in the game. It must be soul-destroying for opponents at times.

Erasmus has opted for a traditional 6-2 split between backs and forwards this week, although last week he trialled the “hybrid forward”, with centre Andre Esterhuizen doubling as a flank.

Another player in from the cold is Faf de Klerk, who last appeared in the series against Ireland a year ago. Injuries and a lack of form towards the back end of the season cost him his place, but he has a chance to reignite his flagging Test career.

He is on the bench with Morné van den Berg, affectionately known as “Krappies”, starting a Test for the second time.

“We have a big squad, and we would like to balance the game time within the group, while at the same time maintaining continuity in selection, and we believe this is the team that will be best suited for what we want to achieve against Italy,” said Erasmus.

“We are also fortunate to have a few experienced players back from injury, who will be keen to make their mark in the game.” DM 

Springboks:  15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel (capt), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese,  7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Reserves: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Faf de Klerk, 23 Willie le Roux.