By 
JOHANNESBURG — Damian de Allende is set to etch his name into the annals of rugby history as the Springboks prepare to reignite sport’s standard-bearing clash against New Zealand at 10bet Ellis Park on Saturday.
The powerful midfielder will become only the 10th South African player in history to reach 100 Test caps when he steps onto the pitch for the opening match of the inaugural Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus named a balanced match-day squad that combines fresh legs from players who remained behind in Johannesburg to prepare for the series with battle-hardened personnel returning from the 17-10 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires.
Centurion Landmark and World-Class Backline
De Allende, who made his international debut back in 2014 against Argentina, reunites with long-time midfield partner Jesse Kriel (90 caps) to form South Africa’s record-breaking centre pairing.
Erasmus was full of praise for the veteran inside centre ahead of his milestone outing.
“We are all very excited for Damian, and to achieve this milestone in this series makes it even more special,” Erasmus said. “He’s a great team man and servant to the game, so we hope we can make it a memorable day for him. That said, his focus all week has only been on this match, and he will certainly not let the occasion shadow what he has to do on the field.”
Joining De Allende and Kriel in an explosive backline is dynamic flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who retains his starting spot alongside scrumhalf Grant Williams. The electric back three features Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse on the wings, with Damian Willemse rounding out the attack at fullback.
Front-Eight Firepower and Kolisi Precaution
Up front, lock Eben Etzebeth—extending his record as the most-capped Springbok in history to 143 Tests—is one of only two players alongside Feinberg-Mngomezulu retained in the starting XV from the win in Argentina. Etzebeth pairs with Ruan Nortje in the engine room, while Ox Nche makes a welcome return from injury at loosehead prop to join Malcolm Marx and Wilco Louw in a formidable front row.
In the back row, Pieter-Steph du Toit will captain the side from blindside flanker in what will be his 99th Test cap. He is joined by Jasper Wiese at No 8 and DHL Stormers youngster Paul de Villiers at openhead flanker.
Standard skipper Siya Kolisi has been left out of the matchday 23 as a precautionary measure, allowing De Villiers a headline start against the All Blacks.
“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 explained. “We are playing four Tests against the All Blacks and Paul has been playing well, so we are excited to give him a chance this weekend in what will be his first Test match against New Zealand, while taking a precautionary approach to Siya’s return.”
Bomb Squad and Tour Heritage
Erasmus has opted for a 6-2 split on the bench, retaining an entire reserve front row from the Argentine fixture with Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Gerhard Steenekamp, and Zachary Porthen. They are joined by utility forwards Cobus Wiese, Marco van Staden, and Andre Esterhuizen. Experience keyman Cobus Reinach and playmaker Manie Libbok provide specialist backline cover.
This series marks the first traditional tour by the All Blacks to South African shores since 1996. While New Zealand holds the historical upper hand overall with 63 wins from 110 meetings, the Boks have asserted recent dominance, winning five of the last six encounters between the nations dating back to August 2023—including the memorable 2023 Rugby World Cup final in France.
Expecting another tight physical contest at Ellis Park—where South Africa defeated the All Blacks 31-27 during the 2024 Rugby Championship—Erasmus warned that razor-thin margins will decide the opener.
“They are a quality team and they’re very well coached, so we are preparing for an 80-minute grind,” Erasmus added. “Many of the matches between the sides have come down to the wire, so it’s important that we use the chances we create and ensure that our discipline is on point.”
Kick-off in Johannesburg is scheduled for 17:10 SAST on Saturday, with the match broadcast live on SuperSport.
Teams
Springboks: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (c), 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok.
