Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph boost for Springboks as they depart for New Zealand

The Springboks will be at full strength for their two-match trip to New Zealand, with Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Willie le Roux medically cleared.

Kolisi has recovered quicker than expected from a knee knock that ruled him out of last week’s second Test against the Wallabies, while flank Du Toit has been passed fit after a concussion.

The Boks depart for New Zealand on Tuesday, giving them time to recover from jet lag before facing the All Blacks in Auckland on 6 September and in Wellington a week later. The matches will be pivotal as the team seeks to defend the Rugby Championship title they won last season for the first time since 2019.

Coach Rassie Erasmus has stuck largely with the squad that faced Australia. A total of 36 of the 38 players from last week’s group have been retained, with Makazole Mapimpi added following injuries to Kurt-Lee Arendse and Edwill van der Merwe. The only forward to miss out is utility man Cobus Wiese, who has been placed on standby.

The squad features 20 forwards and 16 backs. No 8 Jasper Wiese is still serving a suspension and will only be eligible for selection for the Wellington Test.

“This group has been working hard together since our first training camp in June, and most of them have been playing together for years, while the newer players in the squad have shown that they are ready for this challenge,” said Erasmus.

“Siya, Pieter-Steph, Willie and Jan-Hendrik have been cleared of their niggles, while all the players who faced Australia have received a clean bill of health.”

Erasmus expects a stern challenge in New Zealand but is relishing the opportunity.

“The Rugby Championship is wide open with all four teams having won a match in the first two rounds, so this tour is going to be vital for us, and we certainly take confidence from the win against Australia,” he said.

“Facing the All Blacks in New Zealand is a massive challenge, but all the teams in this competition are ranked among the top sides in the world, and each one has the potential to beat one another on the day.

“We have won our last four matches against them dating back to 2023, which marked only the second time in history that we defeated them four times in a row, and there is no doubt that will motivate both teams.

"We need to ensure that we build on what we’ve been working on this year in the Incoming Series and Rugby Championship and take another step up.”

The Springboks travel on Tuesday, giving them nearly a week to acclimatise before running out in Auckland.

Springbok squad for the Rugby Championship Tests against New Zealand

Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Jean-Luc du Preez (Bordeaux-Bègles), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks), Vincent Koch (Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Wilco Louw (Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks)

Backs: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), André Esterhuizen (Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Ethan Hooker (Sharks), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Handré Pollard (Bulls), Cobus Reinach (Stormers), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Sharks), Damian Willemse (Stormers).

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