Siya Kolisi captains Springboks in 100th Test against France

Siya Kolisi will captain South Africa in his 100th Test when the Springboks face France at the Stade de France on Saturday, November 8, with kickoff at 20:10 local time, head coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed as he named a largely experienced side for the rematch of last year’s World Cup quarterfinal. The match also marks Erasmus’s 50th Test in charge and comes as South Africa seek to defend their top world ranking and test combinations ahead of the next World Cup cycle.

Erasmus made several changes from the team that beat Japan last week, reverting to a number of established combinations to match what he expects from France in Paris. Boan Venter starts at loosehead in place of the injured Ox Nche, while Malcolm Marx and Thomas du Toit complete a refreshed front row. Lood de Jager and Eben Etzebeth pair at lock, and Kolisi will lead a back row alongside Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese. Damian Willemse returns at fullback, with Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse on the wings and the midfield formed by Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu continues at flyhalf with Cobus Reinach at scrumhalf.

“This is a huge milestone for Siya and we are all delighted for...