Erasmus names Springboks team for England clash

South Africa have named their team to face England in the Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park, with Damian Willemse and Cheslin Kolbe set to win their 50th Test caps.

Willemse And Kolbe Reach Springboks Milestone

Head coach Rassie Erasmus praised the pair for their long-term contribution to South African rugby and said the team would be motivated to make the occasion memorable.

“They have been stalwarts for us over the years and, as a team, we would like to make it a memorable day for them,” he said.

“It is not every day you have two players playing their 50th Test, so that will certainly add to our motivation this week.”

South Africa Name Strong Team Against England

South Africa have selected an experienced side for the opening round of the new Nations Championship. Manie Libbok starts at fly-half, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu unavailable through injury.

Grant Williams has been named at scrum-half, while Cobus Reinach starts on the bench. Thomas du Toit has been selected at tighthead prop after a strong season with Bath, while Ruan Nortje partners Eben Etzebeth in the second row.

Lood de Jager and Franco Mostert were unavailable, leaving Erasmus to adjust his lock options for the Ellis Park fixture.

Nations Championship Opens At Ellis Park

The match is one of six first-round fixtures in the new Nations Championship, which brings together leading teams from the northern and southern hemispheres.

South Africa enter the competition in strong form, having won 23 of their last 27 Tests since lifting the 2023 Rugby World Cup. After facing England, the Springboks will host Scotland in Pretoria on July 11 and Wales in Durban a week later.

South Africa XV: Willemse; Kolbe, Kriel, De Allende, Arendse; Libbok, Williams; Nche, Marx, T du Toit, Etzebeth, Nortje, Kolisi, P-S du Toit, Wiese

Reserves: Wessels, Steenekamp, Porthen, Van Staden, Hanekom, Reinach,