Rassie Erasmus Explains Siya Kolisi Snub and Damian De Allende’s 100th Cap vs All Blacks
- Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus revealed why Siya Kolisi was left out of the squad to face New Zealand this Saturday
- Paul de Villiers gets his first Test start against the All Blacks at openside flank ahead of the two-time World Cup-winning captain
- Damian de Allende is set to become just the 10th Springbok to earn 100 Test caps in the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series opener
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Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has explained his decision to leave Siya Kolisi out of the side for Saturday's first Test against the All Blacks, part of the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series, while also commenting on a landmark occasion for Damian de Allende.
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Erasmus announced his squad on Thursday, with Pieter-Steph du Toit named as captain and 23-year-old Paul de Villiers selected at openside flank ahead of the experienced Kolisi.
Why Kolisi was left out
Despite Siya Kolisi completing the week’s training without any issues, Rassie Erasmus explained that the decision to leave out the two-time World Cup-winning captain was based on current form and a cautious approach to his return.
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Erasmus said Kolisi had trained well and could have been selected for the match, but the coaching staff opted to give Paul a start instead.
He added that Paul has been performing strongly and deserved the opportunity to feature in his first Test against New Zealand, particularly with the Springboks facing the All Blacks in four Tests. At the same time, the decision allows the team to take a measured approach to Kolisi’s return.
Erasmus also highlighted the strength of the squad, saying the depth available means selection will be assessed on a week-by-week basis, with every player competing strongly for a place in the team.
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De Allende's century of caps
The occasion holds extra significance for Damian de Allende, who is set to earn his 100th Test cap and become only the 10th Springbok to reach the landmark.
Rassie Erasmus praised De Allende for reaching the milestone, describing him as an important team player and a dedicated servant of the game. The Springboks coach said the achievement would make the occasion even more special, while stressing that De Allende had remained fully focused on his responsibilities on the field and would not allow the milestone to distract him.
Looking ahead to the match, Erasmus acknowledged New Zealand’s quality and the strength of their coaching setup. He expects the encounter to be a physically demanding 80-minute battle, given how closely contested many previous meetings between the two sides have been.
Erasmus also stressed the importance of the Springboks making the most of their scoring opportunities while maintaining discipline throughout the match.
The coach was encouraged by the squad’s growing cohesion ahead of the fixture, with players who remained in South Africa during the series preparations now reunited with those who featured against Argentina. The full group has also spent more than a week training together.
Springboks star celebrates after hitting 50th cap
Briefly News previously reported that Springbok star Cheslin Kolbe described reaching the 50-Test milestone as a dream come true after helping South Africa to a convincing 45-21 victory over England on Saturday.
The electric winger celebrated his landmark appearance in style, scoring a try and adding five successful conversions as the Springboks opened their Nations Championship campaign with an impressive bonus-point win.
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Source: Briefly News
