Springboks Trio Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph Du Toit, Jasper Wiese Set to Make History vs All Blacks
- Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese are set to become the most-capped loose trio in Springbok history on Saturday, 5 September
- The three players will surpass the record held by Francois Louw, Willem Alberts and Duane Vermeulen, who started together 17 times
- Coach Rassie Erasmus has kept the combination intact for the series decider against New Zealand at FNB Stadium in Soweto
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Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese are on the brink of rewriting Springbok history when they take the field against the All Blacks at FNB Stadium in Soweto on Saturday, 5 September.
The three loose forwards will set an outright record for the most Tests started together in Springbok history as a back-row unit, surpassing a combination that had long been considered the benchmark in South African rugby.
**The Record They Are Chasing**
Heading into last weekend's second Test at Cape Town Stadium, Kolisi, Du Toit and Wiese drew level with the previous record holders — Francois Louw, Willem Alberts and Duane Vermeulen — who featured together 17 times. Saturday's third Test, with the series locked at 1-1, will be their 18th appearance as a trio, making them the outright leaders in that category, as confirmed by South Africa Rugby.
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The Louw-Alberts-Vermeulen combination was a cornerstone of Springbok forward packs for years, valued for their physicality and effectiveness at the breakdown. Several coaching regimes leaned heavily on that trio before the current group began building their own legacy.
**Where the Trio Sits in Springbok History**
The record chase did not begin at 17. The three players had already overtaken another celebrated group: current Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus himself, together with Andre Venter and Gary Teichmann, who started 14 Tests in the Nos 6, 7 and 8 jerseys. Teichmann and Venter also appear in the record books as part of a separate loose forward combination with flanker Ruben Kruger, also on 14.
The pattern reinforces a long-standing preference in South African rugby for consistency in the back row, with coaches repeatedly backing combinations that deliver reliability across multiple matches.
**Emotion and Continuity Behind the Milestone**
The Cape Town leg of the series carried added personal significance. Kolisi was returning from an injury lay-off, Du Toit was marking his 100th Test cap, and Wiese continued to cement his place in the No 8 jersey. Erasmus has shown no desire to disrupt the combination, opting for the same trio in the series decider.
A Springbok win on Saturday would also seal the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand, adding further weight to a milestone that is as much about team success as individual achievement.
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Source: Briefly News
