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.
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 Kolisi training without issue throughout the week, Erasmus said the decision came down to form and a measured approach to easing the two-time World Cup-winning skipper back into action.
"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 said.
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"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."
Erasmus added that squad depth is driving a week-by-week approach to selection: "We have a solid group of players, and each one of them deserves their places in the squad, so we will approach team selection week by week."
**De Allende's Century of Caps**
The occasion carries added significance as De Allende prepares to win his 100th Test cap, making him only the tenth Springbok to reach that milestone.
"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."
On the broader contest, Erasmus acknowledged the quality New Zealand bring and warned his side to expect a hard-fought encounter. "They are a quality team and they're very well coached, so we are preparing for an 80-minute grind," he said.
"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."
Erasmus also noted the squad's cohesion heading into the fixture, with players who trained in South Africa throughout the series preparation period joining those who featured against Argentina, the full group having been together for over a week.
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Source: Briefly News
