Siya Kolisi to earn 100th cap as Boks gear up for French showdown

Siya Kolisi will mark a century of Test appearances when he leads South Africa against France at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday night.

It will be a double milestone for the Springboks, with coach Rassie Erasmus also taking charge of his 50th Test as head coach. Erasmus has made six changes to the team that defeated Japan, but said the night will first and foremost be about Kolisi’s achievement.

“This is a huge milestone for Siya and we are all delighted for him,” said Erasmus. “He is a level-headed player and although this will be a big occasion for him, and a match that we would like to make special for him, he is fully focused on the task at hand, so he won’t allow that to overshadow what he must do on the field.

“This is a huge game, and the entire team knows how determined France will be to make up for the World Cup result, so we’ll celebrate Siya’s achievement after the match. That said, hopefully we can make it a memorable game for him.”

Kolisi’s milestone adds to a string of achievements that already includes two Rugby World Cup titles, back-to-back Rugby Championship victories and the British & Irish Lions Series win.

Erasmus rings the changes

Erasmus has named Boan Venter to replace the injured Ox Nche at loosehead prop, while Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Damian Willemse all return to the starting XV.

The only change on the bench sees RG Snyman move down from the starting lineup to cover as a replacement lock, with Kwagga Smith carrying a niggle.

Venter, Malcolm Marx and Thomas du Toit will pack down in the front row, with Etzebeth partnering Lood de Jager at lock. The loose trio of Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese will reunite for the first time since the 30-26 loss to France in Marseille in 2022.

Two changes come in the backline: Willemse starts at fullback in place of Cheslin Kolbe, who shifts to his preferred wing position alongside Kurt-Lee Arendse. Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel form the midfield pairing, while Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will control play at halfback.

On the bench, the Vodacom Bulls trio of Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp and Wilco Louw are joined by Snyman, Ruan Nortje and Andre Esterhuizen, with Grant Williams and Manie Libbok providing backline cover.

Familiar faces, familiar challenge

Eleven players in the match-day squad featured in the Boks’ narrow World Cup quarterfinal win over Les Bleus at the same venue in 2023, while 12 were involved in the 2022 Marseille Test. That includes Marx, who missed the World Cup after an early injury.

“We always planned to make a few changes for this match, and we’ll continue to rotate the players throughout the tour, so we can give as many players as possible a chance while at the same time trying to achieve our objectives on the field,” said Erasmus.

“This, however, is the team we feel is best suited to what we expect from France, and the way we would like to play this weekend. Many of them have also faced France in 2022 and 2023, so they know what to expect from the hosts and have also had a taste of what it is to play in front of their passionate home crowd.”

Expecting a fierce French response

With talk in the French media focusing on revenge for their World Cup exit, Erasmus said the Springboks were approaching the contest with their usual intensity.

“France have a quality team all around, with good forwards and backs, and they are a side that plays for the full 80 minutes,” he said. “They will also have a fanatical home crowd behind them, which will inspire them immensely, so we are fully aware of the magnitude of this match, and we know what we have to do on the field.

“The game against Japan certainly helped in getting some of the players back into Test-match mode, and hopefully that will set us in good stead going into this game.

“The key for us is that we have to be accurate in everything we do, make the most of the chances we create, and to keep fighting from the first whistle until the hooter sounds because there is no doubt it’s going to be another epic battle between the teams.”

The Test kicks off at 10.10pm and will be broadcast live on SuperSport’s Grandstand and Rugby channels during DStv Open Time.

Springboks team to face France in Paris: (15–1): Damian Willemse, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cobus Reinach, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain), Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Thomas du Toit, Malcolm Marx, Boan Venter.

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