South Africa will be captained by Siya Kolisi, who is returning from injury, as they face Georgia in a Test match at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday. Coach Rassie Erasmus has chosen three players to start in the front row for their first time.
Kolisi missed the last two Tests against Italy due to injury, but he will join Eben Etzebeth in the lineup to guide newcomers Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe, and Neethling Fouche.
With these three debutants, the total number of new players this season will rise to seven. Earlier this season, Vincent Tshituka (flanker), Wiese, Asenathi Ntlabakanye (prop), and Ethan Hooker (utility back) all made their Test debuts against Italy.
Erasmus shared on the SA Rugby website: “We wanted to ensure that Siya was completely fit before bringing him back, so it’s fantastic to have him in the team again. Boan, Marnus, and Neethling have been training hard and earned this opportunity.”
He continued: “Marnus and Neethling played against the Barbarians, so they understand what international rugby is like. Boan has also shown great promise at the club level and with our team recently, and we’re excited to see him play.”
Erasmus emphasized: “Building squad depth has been a key focus for us since 2018, and they are all definitely ready for this challenge.”
Focusing on his team choices, Erasmus stated: “We understand how passionate and intense the Georgian team is, and they will be eager to prove themselves. That’s why we’ve chosen some seasoned players who we want to give more playing time before the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, along with a few younger players who have shown they deserve another chance. We’re happy with the mix we have in this group.”
Although the Boks have never lost to Georgia (scoring 12 tries to their 1 in two matches) and last faced them in 2021, Erasmus mentioned that he would take them seriously as the Boks aim to find their best combinations for the Rugby Championship.
He said: “Georgia is a strong team that takes pride in their physical play and power during tackles, so set pieces, mauls, and breakdowns will be crucial areas for us.
“They also have talented backs that complete their squad, so we must stay sharp in every aspect of our game to keep improving our standards, build momentum, and achieve the results we want.”
