The return of several experienced players in key positions is the notable feature of the Springbok team that coach Rassie Erasmus has selected for Saturday’s first Nations Championship test against England at Ellis Park.
World Cup winners Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi and Ox Nche were part of the team that won the non-international status game against the Barbarians in Gqeberha nine days ago.
They have been joined for the Johannesburg game by fullback Damian Willemse, centre Damian de Allende, wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, flyhalf Manie Libbok, lock Eben Etzebeth and hooker Malcolm Marx, all of whom will start against the team the Boks edged out narrowly in the 2023 Rugby World Cup semifinal in Paris.
They are further joined by players who were first choice in their positions for most or at least part of last season in scrumhalf Grant Williams, who played in the 80-31 win in Gqeberha, and lock Ruan Nortje as Erasmus goes full strength in an all-out attempt to get the official part of the Boks’ 2026 campaign off to a winning start.
Arendse and Nortje were away on duty for the Vodacom Bulls in their Vodacom URC final in Dublin on the weekend of the Barbarians game, as were five players who find place on the replacement bench in Johannesburg - Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Cameron Hanekom and Canan Moodie.
REINACH'S RETURN
It is interesting to see Cobus Reinach back in the match-day 23 as the backup to Williams after he missed the last month of the DHL Stormers’ URC campaign due to injury. Wilco Louw, another Bulls player, is not in the group, with young Zachary Porthen being entrusted with the task of being Du Toit’s back-up at tighthead prop.
Erasmus has resisted the temptation to call out a so-called ‘Bomb Squad’ for this game, with the more traditional five/three split between forwards and backs making up the bench rather than a six/two split. There is no back-up lock, which means that blindside flank Du Toit will be covering that position.
ANDRE 'FLENTER'
Of course the Boks do have a hybrid back/forward on the bench in the form of Andre Esterhuizen, who started in Gqeberha and played well but makes way for the more regular No 12 De Allende in this game.
There is also no backup flyhalf, with the Bulls’ experienced Handre Pollard missing out completely, which means that Erasmus will back fullback Willemse to take up the pivot position should Libbok be injured during the Ellis Park game.
That is a selection that gives a good indication of Erasmus’ thinking, with Kolbe now part of the mix as a place-kicker who can be called upon should someone like Willemse not find his radar in the event of him finding himself playing flyhalf. Kolbe was on target in the Gqeberha game and did well for his club from the tee in the Japanese league.
Team announcement: 50-up for Willemse and Kolbe against England this weekend - more here: https://t.co/ucQu8yf9RK 🙌
— Springboks (@Springboks) June 29, 2026
Tickets: https://t.co/vHNxb0bVoE 🎟️#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/gLBkfAY49m
Springbok team: Damian Willemse, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Manie Libbok, Grant Williams, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain), Ruan Nortje, Eben Etzebeth, Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche.
Replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Zachary Porthen, Marco van Staden, Cameron Hanekom, Cobus Reinach, Andre Esterhuizen, Canan Moodie.