Siya Kolisi of South Africa celebrates victory during the 2024 Rugby Championship match between South Africa and New Zealand at Ellis Park, Photo: PHOTOSPORT
All Blacks v Springboks
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 6 September
Eden Park, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Siya Kolisi has recovered from injury and will lead the Springbok side for the two highly anticipated tests against the All Blacks. The Springbok skipper sustained the injury against the Wallabies in their shock loss at Ellis Park, which led to him leaving the field early in the second half.
Coach Rassie Erasmus named his squad on Monday night, with only three players who featured against the Wallabies missing. Wings Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe, along with loose forward Cobus Wiese, will not make the trip for the test matches in Auckland and Wellington.
"Siya, Pieter-Steph (du Toit), Willie (le Roux), and Jan-Hendrik (Wessels) have been medically cleared from their niggles, while all the players who faced Australia in Cape Town have received a clean bill of health and will be ready to face the All Blacks," said coach Rassie Erasmus.
Number eight Jasper Wiese is still currently serving a suspension after being sent off against Italy last month and will only be eligible for selection for the second test.
Rassie Erasmus. Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
"Facing the All Blacks in New Zealand is a massive challenge, but all the teams in this competition are ranked among the top sides in the world, and each one has the potential to beat one another on the day.
"In the last two months alone, Australia defeated us at Ellis Park and went down narrowly in their British & Irish Lions Series defeat, while Argentina defeated New Zealand last weekend and the British & Irish Lions, so we are not paying much attention to our historic records in New Zealand."
While the All Blacks have a formidable record at Eden Park, having not lost there since 1994, the Springboks have not won at New Zealand's largest stadium since 1937. Auckland has not been kind to them even away from Eden Park, as they suffered a record 57-0 defeat to the All Blacks at North Harbour Stadium in 2017 and a 35-20 loss at Mt Smart in 2023.
Springbok squad to face the All Blacks
Forwards: Lood de Jager, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Thomas du Toit, Jean-Luc du Preez, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Marnus van der Merwe, Marco van Staden, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Jasper Wiese
Backs: Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Manie Libbok, Makazole Mapimpi, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg, Grant Williams, Damian Willemse
