Rugby-Kolisi to return for Springboks if he proves his fitness


FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Autumn Internationals - France v South Africa - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - November 8, 2025 South Africa's Siya Kolisi celebrates after the match REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Captain ⁠Siya Kolisi has been named in the South Africa side ⁠to take on New Zealand in the second test in Cape ‌Town on Saturday, but only if he passes a fitness test later in the week, while flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been dropped.

• Kolisi will take the place of ​Paul de Villiers if he makes it ⁠through the week’s training after ⁠being omitted from the team beaten 33-16 by the All Blacks in ⁠the ‌first test in Johannesburg. If he does not, De Villiers will keep his place, coach Rassie Erasmus said on Monday.

• ⁠The experienced halfback pairing of Handre Pollard and Cobus ​Reinach replace Feinberg-Mngomezulu, ‌who was guilty of key handling errors, and the injured Grant ⁠Williams.

• Winger ​Cheslin Kolbe is also out with what Erasmus termed a niggle and will be replaced by Ethan Hooker, which means Kurt-Lee Arendse switches from the ⁠left to right wing.

• The test marks a ​100th cap for utility forward Pieter-Steph du Toit, who captained the team in the surprise first test defeat.

• Switches on the bench include 39-year-old ⁠Deon Fourie as a back-up front row, while Thomas du Toit (prop), Lood de Jager (lock), and Cameron Hanekom (loose forward) will join hybrid Andre Esterhuizen.

Team: 15-Damian Willemse, 14-Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13-Jesse Kriel, 12-Damian de Allende, 11-Ethan Hooker, 10-Handre ​Pollard, 9-Cobus Reinach, 8-Jasper Wiese, 7-Pieter-Steph du Toit, ⁠6-Siya Kolisi (captain) or Paul de Villiers, 5-Ruan Nortje, 4-Eben Etzebeth, 3-Wilco Louw, ​2-Malcolm Marx, 1-Ox Nche.

Replacements: 16-Deon Fourie, 17-Gerhard ‌Steenekamp, 18-Thomas du Toit, 19-Lood de Jager, ​20-Andre Esterhuizen, 21-Cameron Hanekom, 22-Morne van den Berg, 23-Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

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(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Ed Osmond)

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