Erasmus names impressive Springboks side for first test against Ireland

South Africa team for Saturday's first test against Ireland

Ireland are set to face 20 World Cup winners when they face South Africa on Saturday after Rassie Erasmus named an experienced matchday squad for the first Test at Loftus Versfeld.

The Springbok head coach, who has resumed the reins after Jacques Nienaber moved to Leinster following their successful 2023 World Cup title defence last October, on Tuesday named 15 starters and five replacements from that same selection which overcame New Zealand at Stade de France for the first leg of a two-Test series with the back-to-back Six Nations champions.

It is the second most experienced South African line-up in their Test history, the combined total of 966 caps beaten only by the 987 caps of the World Cup final side.

The three non-participants from that Springboks line-up in France - prop Gerhard Steenekamp, lock Salmaan Moerat (lock) and utility back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu - are part of a bench of six forwards and two backs while the XV features 12 of the starting line-up from the 12-11 win over the All Blacks, full-back Willie le Roux, No.8 Kwagga Smith and prop Ox Nche having come off the bench that night in Paris It is a side captained by flanker Siya Kolisi showing eight changes from the selection which beat Wales 41-13 at Twickenham on June 22 with Kolisi, Le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Handre Pollard, Marco van Staden, RG Snyman and Steenekamp all preparing for their first Test action of the year.

“This is the team we believe will give us the impetus we need against Ireland, who are the second highest ranked team in the world,” Erasmus said.

“We are blessed to have a lot of depth in our squad, and we are in a fortunate position to have several Rugby World Cup-winners in our ranks who know what it takes to perform at the highest level and play against the best teams in the world.

“The fact that most of these guys have played together is a bonus for us, and most of them have faced Ireland before so they are well aware of the challenge that lies ahead, especially since we haven’t beaten them since 2016.” 

Erasmus referenced Ireland’s three victories over the Springboks since 2016, including last September’s World Cup pool victory at Stade de France as he teed up the sold-out Loftus Versfeld clash. The former Munster head coach had at the weekend cheekily named the Ireland 23 he expected to face this Saturday.

“Ireland have had the upper hand over us in the last few years and they will certainly want to build on that on Saturday. “That said, we have a good idea of what to expect from them, especially after the World Cup last year.

“They have a few new players in their ranks this year, but so do we and that contributes to the excitement for the match. They are a physical team that never give up, but the margins between the teams are fairly small, so it’s going to be an intense battle and one that will require a resolute performance for the full 80 minutes.” Andy Farrell is set to name his Ireland team for the opening Test on Thursday.

SOUTH AFRICA (v Ireland): W le Roux (Bulls); C Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), J Kriel (Canon Eagles), D de Allende (Wild Knights), K-L Arendse (Bulls); H Pollard (Leicester Tigers), F de Klerk (Canon Eagles); O Nche (Sharks), B Mbonami (Sharks), F Malherbe (Stormers); E Etzebeth (Sharks), F Mostert (Honda Heat); S Kolisi (Racing 92) – captain, P-S du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), K Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs).

Replacements: M Marx (Kubota Spears), G Steenekamp (Bulls), V Koch (Sharks), S Moerat (Stormers), RG Snyman (Leinster), M van Staden (Bulls), G Williams (Sharks), S Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers).