Kolbe and Willemse reach 50 caps as Erasmus names Libbok to start against England

Cheslin Kolbe and Damian Willemse will both reach 50 caps for South Africa when the Springboks host England at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday, 4 July, in their opening Nations Championship fixture of 2026.

Rassie Erasmus has named a heavily experienced side for the Test, with only one player in the starting XV — Bulls lock Ruan Nortje — carrying fewer than 20 caps. Nortje partners Eben Etzebeth in the second row, the veteran lock returning to the starting lineup after recovering from a hip injury.

The most significant selection call falls at fly-half, where Manie Libbok has been handed the No.10 jersey following the ankle injury that has ruled out Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Handré Pollard was not included in the squad.

The starting XV otherwise reflects the settled core that has defined Erasmus’s tenure as head coach. Siya Kolisi captains the side from blindside flanker, with Pieter-Steph du Toit at openside and Jasper Wiese at number eight. Grant Williams starts at scrum-half, with Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende in midfield and Kurt-Lee Arendse on the left wing.

South Africa’s front row of Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Thomas du Toit remains intact, while the replacements bench includes Cobus Reinach, Andre Esterhuizen and Canan Moodie among the backs.

The match is the first of three home Tests for South Africa this season, with Scotland and Wales to follow England in the Nations Championship schedule.

Springboks XV: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 1 Ox Nche, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Ruan Nortje, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Jasper Wiese.

Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Zach Porthen, 19 Marco van Staden, 20 Cameron Hanekom, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Andre Esterhuizen, 23 Canan Moodie.