Springboks replace Kolisi with De Villiers for first All Blacks test

Paul de Villiers of South Africa in action during the 2026 Nations Championship match between South Africa and Scotland. Pic: David Rogers/Getty Images

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi has been dropped for the first test against New Zealand at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday but powerful ​prop Ox Nche will start in the front row.

Kolisi has been ‌battling a hamstring injury and while coach Rassie Erasmus said he was fit to play, the coach has selected the inexperienced Paul de Villiers ahead of him.

Mercurial Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has ​been chosen at flyhalf ahead of Manie Libbok, who is on the ​bench, and the experienced Handre Pollard. Scrumhalf Grant Williams starts and ⁠completes the half-back pairing.

Inside centre Damian de Allende becomes the 10th ​Springbok to reach 100 test caps as he starts alongside Jesse Kriel, with wings ​Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe making up the back three with Damian Willemse.

Malcolm Marx is selected at hooker with Nche and Wilco Louw also in the front row, while Eben ​Etzebeth and Ruan Nortje are the lock pairing.

De Villiers and Pieter-Steph du ​Toit, who will captain the side, are at flank and Jasper Wiese at number eight.

"Siya trained ‌well ⁠with us this week and, although we could have selected him for this clash, we thought it would be best to select Paul for this weekend’s game," Erasmus said.

Saturday’s test is the first of four on successive Saturdays as part ​of ‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’ ​series and is ⁠followed by clashes in Cape Town, Johannesburg again and then Baltimore in the U.S.

The Springboks have won five of ​their last six tests against the All Blacks, including inflicting a ​record ⁠43-10 defeat on their great rivals last time they met in Wellington.

South Africa: Damian Willemse; Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Grant Williams; Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, Wilco Louw; Eben Etzebeth, Ruan Nortje; Paul de Villiers, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese.

Replacements: Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, Zachary Porthen, Cobus Wiese, Andre Esterhuizen, Marco van Staden, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok.