SOUTH AFRICA CAPTAIN Siya Kolisi will miss the first Test against New Zealand in Johannesburg on Saturday as he recovers from a hamstring injury.

“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 (de Villiers),” said head coach Rassie Erasmus.

Erasmus has given the key fly-half role to Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who returned to action in a Test win in Argentina this month after recovering from an ankle injury.

The playmaker, who scored a Springbok record 37 points last year in another Test against Argentina, got the nod over Manie Libbok, who is among the eight replacements.

Inside centre Damian de Allende will become the 10th Springbok centurion when he lines up against the All Blacks.

There were a couple of slight surprises in the starting XV with scrum-half Grant Williams preferred to Cobus Reinach and tighthead prop Wilco Louw chosen ahead of Thomas du Toit.

An outstanding performance by No 8 Cameron Hanekom in the 17-10 win over Argentina was not enough to earn him a place in the matchday 23.

Meanwhile, Beauden Barrett has been left out of the New Zealand matchday 23 for the opening Test, with All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie making just one change to the team that beat Ireland last month.

Lock Fabian Holland comes into the starting XV in place of Patrick Tuipulotu, who captained the side to victory over the Stormers in the first warm-up match.

Captain and No 8 Ardie Savea makes his first appearance of the tour after resting while New Zealand beat three South African franchises ahead of the first Test.

Full-back Damian McKenzie, wing Will Jordan and scrum-half Cam Roigard have all passed fitness tests and will start at Ellis Park.

After a lengthy spell of All Blacks dominance in the 105-year rivalry, the Springboks have turned the tide, winning five of the last six Tests between the rivals.

The other Tests are set for Cape Town on 29 August, Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg on 5 September and the American city of Baltimore on 12 September.

South Africa

15. Damian Willemse
14. Cheslin Kolbe
13. Jesse Kriel
12. Damian de Allende
11. Kurt-Lee Arendse
10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
9. Grant Williams

1. Ox Nche
2. Malcolm Marx
3. Wilco Louw
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Ruan Nortje
6. Paul de Villiers
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt)
8. Jasper Wiese

Replacements:

16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels
17. Gerhard Steenekamp
18. Zachary Porthen
19. Cobus Wiese
20. Andre Esterhuizen
21. Marco van Staden
22. Cobus Reinach
23. Manie Libbok

New Zealand

15. Damian McKenzie
14. Will Jordan
13. Quinn Tupaea
12. Jordie Barrett
11. Josh Moorby
10. Ruben Love
9. Cam Roigard

1. Ethan de Groot
2. Codie Taylor
3. Tyrel Lomax
4. Josh Lord
5. Fabian Holland
6. Tupou Vaa’i
7. Luke Jacobson
8. Ardie Savea (capt)

Replacements:

16. Asafo Aumua
17. George Bower
18. Fletcher Newell
19. Anton Segner
20. Peter Lakai
21. Kyle Preston
22. Anton Lienert-Brown
23. Leroy Carter

– © AFP 2026