ReportSpringboksTimesLIVE Rugbyyesterday

Du Toit to captain Springboks as Kolisi sits out Ellis Park All Blacks Test

Pieter-Steph du Toit captains the Springboks at Ellis Park on Saturday as Siya Kolisi is held out of the All Blacks opener with a hamstring injury, in a precautionary call by Rassie Erasmus ahead of the four-Test series.

Pieter-Steph du Toit will captain the Springboks in Saturday's Rugby Championship opener against the All Blacks at Ellis Park, with Siya Kolisi ruled out due to a hamstring injury.

Rassie Erasmus confirmed the decision is precautionary, noting that Kolisi trained well during the week and was fit to play, but that the Boks' four-Test series against New Zealand made the risk unjustifiable at this stage.

"We are playing four Tests against the All Blacks and Pieter has been playing well, so we are excited to give him a chance this weekend in what will be his first Test match as captain against New Zealand, while taking a precautionary approach to Siya's return," Erasmus said.

Erasmus is expecting a demanding contest, describing it as "an 80-minute grind" against a team he called quality and well-coached.

South Africa head into the match having won five of their last six Tests against New Zealand.

Sources

TimesLIVE Rugbyhttps://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/rugby/2026-08-21-poll-will-the-boks-miss-siya-kolisi-during-crucial-test-against-the-all-blacks/

Tagged

Erasmus welcomes clarity on Tony Brown's post-2027 departure: 'We've made the mistake in the past'

Tony Brown will join the All Blacks coaching staff in 2028 after his Springbok contract expires at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with Rassie Erasmus welcoming the early clarity as SA Rugby looks to avoid the contractual uncertainty that complicated preparations for France 2023.

ReportSpringboks

Tony Brown to join All Blacks backroom staff in 2028 after Springbok contract ends

NZR have confirmed Tony Brown will join the All Blacks' backroom staff in 2028 on a two-year contract, with the Springboks attack coach set to depart after the 2027 Rugby World Cup. It is the third time NZR have pursued Brown, having previously been rejected during the Foster and Robertson eras.

AnalysisSpringboks

All Blacks' loosehead crisis hands Springboks a ready-made weapon in Greatest Rivalry Series

Jeff Wilson has publicly identified loosehead prop as the All Blacks' most dangerous weakness ahead of four consecutive Tests against the Springboks — with Williams likely out, Tu'ungafasi's future uncertain, and the remaining options short on caps and experience. Set against the depth Erasmus has built across the prop positions, this piece maps out why scrum time could be where the Greatest Rivalry Series is decided.

AnalysisGeneral

Stephen Donald: Robertson copied the Boks — Rennie must go back to All Blacks DNA

Stephen Donald backs Hansen's anti-copycat argument, saying Robertson erred by chasing the Springbok blueprint rather than New Zealand's tempo-based strengths — and expects Rennie to correct that course ahead of a blockbuster four-Test series in South Africa.

AnalysisSpringboks

Mulder's '95 Warning: Don't Sleep on the All Blacks

1995 World Cup winner Japie Mulder warns against writing off the All Blacks ahead of the four-Test series, drawing on South Africa's own underdog story to argue the gap in rankings doesn't guarantee a comfortable series win.