Springboks squad: Winners and losers as ‘electric’ wings miss out but Siya Kolisi headlines ‘timely’ returnees for All Blacks clash
Springboks squad winners and losers as electric wings miss out but returning stars strengthen back row
The Springboks have named a 36-man squad to travel to New Zealand for the third and fourth round Tests of the Rugby Championship.
Here are our winners and losers from the squad.
Winners
Makazole Mapimpi
Inducted into the squad ahead of the Cape Town clash last week, Mapimpi will travel with his teammates as he looks to force his way back into the starting team alongside his former partner in crime, Cheslin Kolbe. The ageing winger has hit 35, but his talent is still clearly there. He had another impressive season with the Sharks, so he is expected to challenge for the second wing slot alongside the young duo of Canan Moodie and Ethan Hooker.
Formerly injured
Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Willie le Roux, and Jan-Hendrik Wessels have all made timely recoveries from recent injuries, which will be a huge boost for Rassie’s side. Both Kolisi and Du Toit are regular starters in the Springboks side, so their returns in particular will give fans huge confidence as they face their huge rivals. The experienced Le Roux will bring great leadership to the squad, while young Bulls front-rower Wessels will provide plenty of enthusiasm within the setup.
Jasper Wiese
The former Leicester Tigers number eight is still serving a suspension for headbutting prop Danilo Fischetti in the July international match against Italy. He was banned for four weeks, so he will only be eligible for selection for the second encounter in Wellington. Despite this, Wiese has been included in the 36-man squad, likely leaving him fresh for the second Test against the famous All Blacks.
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Losers
Asenathi Ntlabakanye
It was confirmed yesterday that the giant prop would not be considered for selection after testing positive for a banned substance in a random test conducted by the South African Institute for Drug Free Sport. The non-performance-enhancing substance for which he has tested positive was reportedly prescribed by a specialist physician early in 2025 for medical reasons, and Ntlabakanye has disputed that he has committed any anti-doping violations. Instead of travelling to New Zealand, he will be given time to prepare a defence for his case.
Kurt-Lee Arendse
The former Sevens player is widely considered one of the greatest wingers in the world, but he will not be able to display his talents for the foreseeable future after suffering an injury in the opening weekend’s 38-22 defeat to the Wallabies at Ellis Park. The electric winger will not be concerned about losing his place in the squad in the long term, however.
Edwill van der Merwe
Like his wing partner, this winger will play no part in the All Black challenge, but for Van der Merwe, it will hurt a little more. The 29-year-old had a storming start to his international career, scoring five tries in his opening three matches, but having also suffered an injury in the opening round loss against the Wallabies, he will have to watch his teammates from afar. With the level of competition in the Springboks squad at an all-time high, the 29-year-old will wonder if he will make it back into the squad when he returns.
Cobus Wiese
While his brother makes the trip despite being under suspension until the second game, Cobus can only make the standby list. A late arrival to the international arena, there was plenty of interest surrounding Cobus Wiese’s performances on the field. Sadly for Jasper’s younger brother, his time in a Springboks shirt appears to be limited. As the only forward – other than Ntlabakanye – not to have made the squad, Wiese will rely on injuries within the forward pack to allow him a peek into the squad.
