Springboks shuffle XV for Turin – Kolisi leads fresh-look side against in-form Italy

SPRINGBOK coach Rassie Erasmus has reshuffled his side for Saturday’s Castle Lager Outgoing Tour Test against Italy at the Allianz Stadium, making 11 changes to the starting XV that beat France last week while retaining Siya Kolisi as captain.

Erasmus said the plan ahead of this tour, from the start, was to give as many players as possible a run, and that the selected team is best suited to the threats Italy will pose.

Only four starters kept their places from the France game: Boan Venter (prop), Siya Kolisi (flanker), Kurt-Lee Arendse (wing) and Damian Willemse (fullback). Then, Johan Grobbelaar moves from the bench into the starting front row alongside Venter and Zachary Porthen, who made his Test debut against Japan in London.

Jean Kleyn returns to Test action for the first time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final and pairs with Franco Mostert in the engine room, while RG Snyman is named among the replacements and is in line to win his 49th Test cap.

Kolisi retains the No.6 jersey in a loose trio with Ben-Jason Dixon and Marco van Staden, who will start at No.8 in what marks Kolisi’s first Test this season.

The backline is also freshened. Morne van den Berg and Handre Pollard will call the shots at halfback; Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe occupy the wing positions; Ethan Hooker and Canan Moodie form the centre pairing; and Willemse remains at fullback.

On the bench, Erasmus has kept most of last week’s replacements but has swapped Johan Grobbelaar into the run-on side and brought Kwagga Smith back into the matchday squad. The replacements include props Gerhard Steenekamp and Wilco Louw, locks Snyman and Ruan Nortje, loose forward Kwagga Smith, hybrid Andre Esterhuizen and backs Grant Williams and Manie Libbok. Marco van Staden will double as the back-up hooker.

Why the changes?

Erasmus explained the logic behind the overhaul, stressing squad depth and experience. “One of our key pillars is to build squad depth, and it’s great to have players like Jean, Handre, Edwill, and Ben-Jason back, who have all been in the mix in the last few seasons. 

“Handre and Jean have played in Rugby World Cups, while Ben-Jason and Edwill have both performed for us at the highest level, and we are excited to see what they’ll bring this weekend.”

He warned that Italy will not be underestimated after recent form. “They’ve made huge strides in the last few years, and last week’s result shows what they are capable of when they are at their best, so we are not taking them lightly. 

“They have also beaten us in Italy before, they are a passionate and well-coached team, and they’ll have an ardent crowd behind them in Torino, so we know what we are in for.”

The Test kicks off at 2.40pm SA time and will be shown live on SuperSport’s Grandstand and Rugby channels.

Springbok XV to face Italy in Turin (15–1): Damian Willemse, Edwill van der Merwe, Canan Moodie, Ethan Hooker, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Handré Pollard, Morne van den Berg, Marco van Staden, Ben-Jason Dixon, Siya Kolisi, Franco Mostert, Jean Kleyn, Zachary Porthen, Johan Grobbelaar, Boan Venter

Replacements (16–23): Gerhard Steenekamp, Wilco Louw, RG Snyman, Ruan Nortje, Andre Esterhuizen, Kwagga Smith, Grant Williams, Manie Libbok