As South Africa gears up for their opening Test match of the season, there’s one noticeable absence that fans can’t ignore—Siya Kolisi won’t be leading the Springboks this weekend against Italy.
While his name has become synonymous with Springbok leadership, coach Rassie Erasmus has made the call to rest him due to a minor fitness concern.
Kolisi Sidelined with Precautionary Rest
According to Erasmus, the decision wasn’t driven by any major injury scare.
Kolisi initially had a stiff neck that resolved, but more recently he’s been experiencing some tightness in his Achilles.
Though scans showed no serious damage, the coaching team is choosing to play it safe.
“We’re just being cautious,” Erasmus explained.
“No one’s going to play more than eight or nine games this year, so there’s no point pushing him now.
The Achilles stiffness isn’t serious, but we’d rather rest him and avoid any long-term issues.”
Jesse Kriel Takes the Captain’s Armband
With Kolisi out, Jesse Kriel will step in as captain for this clash.
The Springbok starting XV is a mix of familiar faces and a few newer combinations, especially in the backline. Here’s how the team will line up:
Starting XV:
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15 Damian Willemse
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14 Cheslin Kolbe
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13 Jesse Kriel (captain)
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12 Damian de Allende
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11 Kurt-Lee Arendse
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10 Handre Pollard
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9 Morne van den Berg
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8 Jasper Wiese
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7 Vincent Tshituka
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6 Marco van Staden
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5 Lood de Jager
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4 Eben Etzebeth
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3 Wilco Louw
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2 Malcolm Marx
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1 Ox Nche
Bench:
Bongi Mbonambi, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Faf de Klerk, Willie le Roux.
Evan Roos Misses Out Again
One name that’s missing once more is Stormers loose forward Evan Roos.
It’s not an injury keeping him out, but rather selection decisions.
Erasmus had addressed this topic recently and offered some clarity.
“Evan is definitely good enough,” he said, “but sometimes you’ve got multiple players competing for one spot.
In this case, we just felt other guys—like Kwagga Smith, Cameron Hanekom, and Juarno Augustus—were fitting our game plan better at the moment.”
Even with Juarno unavailable due to a failed medical ahead of his move to Ulster and Cameron Hanekom ruled out, Erasmus said Roos wasn’t performing quite at the level of his peers during selection time.
Team Choices and the Bigger Picture
Erasmus was quick to remind fans that sometimes selections aren’t about raw talent, but how players fit into the team structure and strategy.
“A player might be Springbok quality,” he said, “but maybe we think the other two or three are better suited to what we want to do right now.
That doesn’t mean someone like Evan is written off—it just means the timing or the system didn’t align.”
Can the Boks Go Undefeated in 2025?
With Rassie Erasmus at the helm and a well-managed player rotation strategy in place, the big question now is whether the Springboks can finish 2025 with a perfect record.
Fans will be watching closely, starting with this clash against Italy.