Springboks Coach Rassie Erasmus Names Revamped Squad Ahead of All Blacks Clash
- Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has overhauled the squad following a tough defeat, making bold selection changes ahead of their next big test
- Several established players have been left out, while new faces are being given the chance to step up and make an impact on the field
- The reworked team is expected to bring fresh energy and test their skills against one of the toughest opponents in world rugby
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Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has made wholesale changes to the team that lost to New Zealand on Saturday, 6 September, 2025 at Eden Park.
South Africa’s late push against the All Blacks yielded no positive result, as the Boks went down 24-17 in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
Source: Getty Images
In response, Erasmus named his squad earlier this week, on Monday, 9 September, making several changes after a series of individual errors contributed to the defeat against the world’s top-ranked side.
The scrum positions saw numerous alterations, with SA Rugby Player of the Year Cheslin Kolbe the only survivor from the previous match.
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Jesse Kriel, who had captained the team at Eden Park, was left out of the squad. Ethan Hooker was called up to replace Canan Moodie, who has been shifted to the centre.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Cobus Reinach will occupy the half-back positions after strong performances last weekend, while Handre Pollard has been omitted from the 23-man squad entirely.
Watch the video below:
What did Erasmus say about the squad?
Erasmus said that it was an exciting team, which they believed would provide the forward power required and add spark to the backline against a quality All Blacks side.
Take a look at the clip below:
He added that the coaching staff had maintained consistency in selection to a large degree in recent matches, but they also wanted to see what certain players could contribute to the attack against the top-ranked team in the world.
He described the match as vital for their Castle Lager Rugby Championship campaign and noted that fresh energy and new legs were needed to achieve the desired result.
Source: Getty Images
Jasper Wiese returns from suspension to take the number 8 role, joining Pieter-Steph du Toit and Siya Kolisi, who moves from the base of the scrum to flanker, as Marco van Staden misses out. Eben Etzebeth is also excluded from the squad, while Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, and Thomas du Toit line up together once again.
As seen in the tweet below:
What did Erasmus say about upcoming match?
Erasmus added that every player in the squad knew the coaching staff believed in them and backed them, and that this would be a great occasion for them to show their capabilities against a team like the All Blacks.
He emphasised that a top-class performance was required to remain in contention for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship.
Source: Getty Images
The coaching staff were aware of the mistakes made the previous week and knew what needed to be corrected, leaving no stone unturned to address those errors. Delivering a strong, full 80-minute performance was crucial, and the team would give everything to achieve that.
Erasmus concluded that many of the players had proven themselves against top teams earlier this year and over the last few seasons, and they would relish the opportunity to face New Zealand on their home turf.
As seen in the tweet below:
Springboks legends advise Erasmus
Briefly News previously reported that Springboks legend Steven Kitshoff urged coach Rassie Erasmus to reassess the team’s playing style as South Africa prepares to face the All Blacks at Eden Park on 6 September.
Erasmus named a full-strength squad packed with experience, to be captained by Jesse Kriel, while regular skipper Siya Kolisi will take on a different role, playing at number eight.
Source: Briefly News
