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Thursday

00:10

International

Double RWC winner names his 'full metal jacket' Boks XV for All Blacks

Josh Raisey

Published: 1 hour ago | 17 August 2026 02:27 PDT

Eben Etzebeth of South Africa gestures during the rugby union test match between Argentina and South Africa at Jose Amalfitani Stadium on August 8, 2026 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Marcos Brindicci/Getty Images)

Double World Cup-winning prop Steve Kitshoff has predicted the South Africa XV he expects Rassie Erasmus to name to take on the All Blacks this Saturday at Ellis Park in the first Test of the Greatest Rivalry series.

While the number of injuries the Boks were dealing with in July has abated heading into the series with the All Blacks, there are still some looming concerns for Erasmus, who will name his side on Thursday this week, breaking the tradition of naming his team on Monday or Tuesday.

Captain Siya Kolisi is out with a hamstring injury, but loosehead prop Ox Nche is expected to be fit after recovering from the knee injury he sustained against England in July.

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As a result, Kitshoff is expecting to see a “full metal jacket” side run out in Johannesburg, having predicted his starting XV on the For the Love of Rugby and Aotearoa Rugby Pod crossover this week.

The former loosehead prop had no issue reeling off the XV he expects, but had some trouble with one position.

Fixture

Internationals

South Africa

08:10

22 Aug 26

New Zealand

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“I think we’re probably going to see the full metal jacket side,” he said.

“I think if Ox is fit, it’ll be Ox, Malcolm Marx and Thomas du Toit for me as the starting front-row. We’ll probably have Eben [Etzebeth] and for me, Ruan Nortje has been exceptional for the Springboks, especially throughout the Nations Championship. During the URC, he’s just been incredible.

“Paul de Villiers at six, Peter-Steph [du Toit], Jasper [Wiese].

“I like Cobus Reinach at nine. Probably go Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu], especially after the 80 minutes he got through against Argentina.

“My centres would be Damian de Allende, I think he’s probably one of the best centres in the world, with Jesse Kriel.

“Then we’re probably going to see Cheslin Kolbe. To be honest, I’m not 100 per cent sure who’s going to be the other wing. And then we’ll probably see Damian Willemse at full-back.

“Probably a guy like Moodie [on the wing], just for his length, maybe to get into those contestable kicking games. Maybe a guy like Ethan Hooker. I thought he was exceptional against Argentina. There are just so many options in the back three.”

Steve Kitshoff’s South Africa XV: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Canan Moodie/Ethan Hooker, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach; 1 Ox Nche, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Ruan Nortjé, 6 Paul de Villiers, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 8 Jasper Wiese

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Comments

7 Comments

cnw 51 mins ago

Looks like the first XV for sure. Nicely balanced mix or power and mobility. The bench will be interesting - Steenekamp, Wessels, Louw, Lood, Cobus, van Staden, Williams and Esterhuizen?

PMcD 20 mins ago

My gut feel is Rassie may balance out the starters and bench to get that full 80 min performance.

I think they may go with Steenkamp, Wessells, Sadie - simply to see what Sadie can do in this type of environment (it will be his biggest test yet) and is part of his development.

It wouldn’t surprise me to see them start Eben & Lood together, with Nortje off the bench and if he goes with De Villiers, I suspect you will see Hanekom & Esterheizen on the bench, with Williams & Manie on the bench (with Esterheizen) as an option at 12 - which is a very solid and flexible bench for this type of test match.

In theory it’s 6|2 in principle but could quickly switch to 5|3 if a centre is injured.

PMcD 52 mins ago

That’s the same side I would go for, so hopefully we are not too wrong but based on where they are, I think there could be a few tighter calls than he suggests.

Sadie or Louw is a tight call on the bench, where they may want to take a better look at Sadie, knowing what Louw can do from the bench.

I think there will be a debate regarding Esterheizen or De Villiers on the side of the scrum, along similar lines.

Finally, I think the biggest call is at 10 - SFM looked rusty, so may need a game or two more, so I wonder if he starts with Mannie (knowing they will have to score points against the AB’s), which potentially puts SFM at 15 for the first couple of tests as he rebuilds his form and sharpness.

I think Rassie will keep us all guessing right to the end.

Lou Cifer 47 mins ago

he’ll back Sacha at 10 with Manie on the bench - gut feel. big call on Esterhuizen with his recent concussion issues….his versatility is massive for the Boks, especially if we go a man down coz one feels there’ll be a YC or two

Lou Cifer 1 hr ago

I think KLA still makes it on the wing

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