Siya Kolisi back to lead new-look Boks against Georgia as Rassie continues to grow depth

It’s an indication of the Springboks’ depth that despite naming three uncapped players for Saturday’s clash against Georgia, the squad still boasts more than 900 Test caps.

Captain Siya Kolisi returns with his 92 Test caps to bolster the stats, while there is a start for Cobus Wiese at No 8, which looks like the most interesting experiment in coach Rassie Erasmus’ latest lineup.

In all, the Bok starting XV, which includes an entirely uncapped front row of Boan Venter at loosehead, hooker Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouché at tighthead, has 484 Test caps.

Venter has impressed for Edinburgh this year, and Van der Merwe was one of the best players in a competitive Scarlets team during the United Rugby Championship.

Their selection also highlights the excellent decision by the South African Rugby Union to allow the Bok coach to select overseas-based players. Eight of these 23 are registered to foreign clubs.

The impressive Test cap number is bolstered by the return of lock Eben Etzebeth, who will earn his 133rd cap, while centre Damian de Allende also starts after sitting out the second Test against Italy.

Last week, Erasmus favoured an inexperienced bench, with three uncapped players. This week, while the starting XV, outside of Kolisi, Etzebeth, De Allende (88 caps) and Pieter-Steph du Toit (87 caps), has limited experience, he has stacked the bench with proven winners.

Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch and Thomas du Toit are the front row reserves. Lock RG Snyman returns, with Kwagga Smith covering the back row options in a traditional 5-3 split between forwards and backs.

Faf de Klerk and Handré Pollard provide vast halfback experience while two-time World Cup-winner Damian Willemse completes a formidable bench.

With the three newbies, Erasmus has now awarded seven new caps in 2025. Kolisi’s return means that the Boks have used 46 players this year already. They continue to build depth while winning.

“We wanted to make sure that Siya is 100% fit before selecting him, so it’s great to have him back in the squad, while Boan, Marnus, and Neethling have been training hard and deserve their chance,” said Erasmus.

“Marnus and Neethling played against the Barbarians, so they have an idea of what international rugby is about, while Boan has shown great potential at club level and with the squad in the last few weeks, and we are looking forward to seeing him play.

“Building squad depth has been one of our pillars as a squad since 2018, and they are all undoubtedly ready to make the step-up.”

Wiese for Wiese

Jasper Wiese, who was red-carded against Italy at the weekend for a headbutt, has been given a four-match ban by World Rugby’s disciplinary tribunal.

He will miss the next four Bok Tests, which include two home contests against Australia, and the 6 September clash against the All Blacks at Eden Park.

He was impressive in the first Test against Italy at Loftus, gaining metres with every carry while also making himself felt in defence.

But his moment of madness in the second Test has cost him and the team, and the Boks must now improvise at No 8 if they want the same ball-carrying threat.

Cobus Wiese, who started his career at the Stormers as a flank, has been used at lock at the Bulls this season. But he showed enough in the last 20 minutes of the second Test against Italy to suggest a return to the back row might not be a bad move.

He was prominent in the loose with some strong carries. The Wieses don’t mind the physical stuff.

While Cobus Wiese isn’t as quick as Evan Roos or Smith, he does pack a punch in contact and can set the tone for winning the gain line battle.

It’s a huge opportunity for Cobus Wiese, considering everything leads to that massive showdown at Eden Park without Jasper Wiese.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu also starts in a Test for the first time since last August, when he led the line against the All Blacks, and has a chance to shine.

Manie Libbok’s polished performance last week, which was a masterclass in creating opportunities for his outside backs, must give him the inside line for the big Tests later this year.

With Aphelele Fassi back at fullback, the return of Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Edwill van der Merwe completing the back three, the attacking potential is salivating.

Canan Moodie gets another go at outside centre as Erasmus looks for depth in a position that has belonged exclusively to Jesse Kriel and Lukhanyo Am for the better part of seven years.

While the level of the opposition this week and the gulf in class, with all due respect, is below what will come later in the year, the players need to show the coaches that they can stick to the plan and stay on script.

The game has the potential to devolve into an unstructured runaround, which might be fun to watch but will serve little purpose in the bigger picture.

Essentially, the players have more to lose than they have to gain in this outing.

“We know how passionate and intense this Georgian side is, and they will be determined to make a strong statement,” said Erasmus.

“So we selected some experienced players who we would like to get more game time before the Rugby Championship, and give a few of the younger players who have put up their hands another run … so we are pleased with the balance we have in this group.” DM

Team:

15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Cobus Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Boan Venter.
Reserves: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Damian Willemse.