966. This is the cumulative number of caps of all South African players lined up against Ireland, the second highest total in the country’s history (987 in the 2023 World Cup final). Proof that the staff has identified this match as a priority. Twenty world champions will be on the match sheet. The Springbok XV will be led, as since 2018, by captain Siya Kolisi (33 years old, 83 caps). Alongside him, there will be eleven players who started the 2023 World Cup final (excluding Willie le Roux, Kwagga Smith and Ox Nche).
The Golden Generation
There will still be eight changes compared to the team that comfortably beat Wales on June 22 (41-13) thanks to the returns of Siya Kolisi, Willie Le Roux, Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Handré Pollard, Marco van Staden, RG Snyman and Gerhard Steenekamp.
« This is the team that we think will give us the momentum we need against Ireland, who are the second highest ranked team in the world.Erasmus said. The fact that most of these guys have played together is a bonus for us, and most of them have played against Ireland before so they are well aware of the challenge ahead, especially as we haven’t beaten them since 2016. »
The South African staff has decided to line up a bench with six forwards and two backs, including three players who have not experienced the last world champion title (Salmaan Moerat, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Gerhard Steenekamp). For the moment, the Irish have still not announced their composition.
