Springboks reshuffle for rapid response in Gqeberha
The Springboks have overhauled and reshuffled theirs squad of 23 for Saturday’s second Test against Italy in Gqeberha, with Rassie Erasmus demanding a sharper, more disciplined performance after last week’s frustrating finish in Pretoria. Here’s your weekend preview of all the international rugby on show – and it’s a 12 hour shift on Saturday. Every detail is here: Teams, Times, Predictions.
Rassie Erasmus has rung the changes for round two against Italy, and the message is clear — standards must be met.
The Springboks were 28-3 up at half-time in Pretoria and cruising toward what should have been a statement win. But the Bomb Squad fizzled, Italy’s ‘Grenade Squad’ detonated, and the Boks were outscored 21-14 in the final 40. That second-half slumber turned a potential rout into a 42-24 result that left Erasmus visibly irked.
Gqeberha now becomes the setting for the response. Only four players remain from last week’s starting XV, with just three more surviving on the bench. It’s a reflection of the Springbok selectors’ intent to stress both squad depth and non-negotiable performance standards.
Despite the overhaul, the Bok blueprint will not shift. Their dominance up front and set-piece precision created the platform in Pretoria, and that will again be the launchpad. But the breakdown battle can’t be lost again. Italy, led by the tireless Manuel Zuliani, turned over possession and momentum in the rucks, exposing a vulnerability South Africa can’t afford to carry into bigger Tests.
Erasmus and co. have since consulted World Rugby on the legality of Italy’s tactics at the breakdown — a clear indication that what happened in the trenches last week won’t be tolerated again.
100 up for Willie, still living the dream
As for Italy, Gonzalo Quesada brings back bruiser Seb Negri and has freshened up his squad. They’ll take heart from that final 40 at Loftus and know that another spirited breakdown performance could again rattle the Bok rhythm.
But they’re up against a wounded Bok pack. And when the forwards get it right, everything flows.
ELECTRIC KURT LEE & THE STECO PLAY OF THE WEEK
South Africa won’t just be chasing a result on Saturday — they’ll be chasing a performance that looks and feels like the Springboks.
SPRINGBOKS – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Bench: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Ethan Hooker.
ITALY – 15 Mirko Belloni, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Marco Zanon, 11 Jacopo Trulla, 10 Giacomo Da Re, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Ross Vintcent, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Niccolo Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 1 Danilo Fischetti.
Bench: 16 Pablo Dimcheff, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Matteo Canali, 20 Alessandro Izekor, 21 David Odia se, 22 Stephen Varney, 23 Giulio Bertaccini.
All Blacks vs France
Robertson’s All Blacks chase polish in Wellington
The All Blacks won the opening Test 31–27, but the scoreboard doesn’t tell the full story.
Scott Robertson’s reign began with a shaky victory over a raw but gutsy French outfit in Dunedin — a performance that exposed early rust and left plenty to improve. Despite leading at the break and dominating key moments, New Zealand couldn’t shake Les Bleus and needed a sharp finish to secure the result.
Beauden Barrett’s late penalty sealed the win, but it was Will Jordan who truly lit up the match. Shifted to wing after Sevu Reece’s early exit, the Crusaders star racked up 120 metres, 14 carries, two tries, and a try assist — with a third try denied by the TMO.
Now, the All Blacks head to Wellington chasing not just a result, but a performance that shows they’re settling into Robertson’s blueprint. With Patrick Tuipulotu and Caleb Clarke coming into the XV, and Ardie Savea leading as captain, New Zealand will expect to lift the tempo and the standard.
France, meanwhile, have made sweeping changes of their own — but showed last week that even their ‘development squad’ has teeth.
NEW ZEALAND – 15 Will Jordan, 14 Rieko Ioane, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ardie Savea (c), 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Bench: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Samipeni Finau, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 23 Damian McKenzie
FRANCE – 15 Léo Barré, 14 Théo Attissogbé, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 11 Emilien Gailleton, 10 Joris Segonds, 9 Nolann Le Garrec, 8 Esteban Abadie, 7 Jacobus Van Tonder, 6 Pierre Bochaton, 5 Matthias Halagahu, 4 Joshua Brennan, 3 Georges-Henri Colombe, 2 Gaëtan Barlot (c), 1 Baptiste Erdocio
Bench: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Paul Mallez, 18 Regis Montagne, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Cameron Woki, 21 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 22 Thibault Daubagna, 23 Antoine Hastoy
Lions brace for heavyweight warm-up in Adelaide
The British & Irish Lions face their biggest challenge of the tour this Saturday, as they meet an Australia–New Zealand Invitational XV stacked with international pedigree at the Adelaide Oval.
It’s the Lions’ final outing before next week’s first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane, and it promises to be far more than a glorified warm-up. The AUNZ XV — co-captained by Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and David Havili — features Test veterans across the park, and has been built to unsettle Andy Farrell’s charges.
Since an early stumble against Argentina in Dublin, the Lions have largely cruised past their Super Rugby opposition. The Brumbies gave them a scare last week, landing four tries and disrupting the breakdown, but the tourists held firm to win 36–24. Even so, the Lions coaching staff will know the next 80 minutes must be sharper, cleaner, and more ruthless.
Breakdown discipline has been a problem throughout the tour. The Brumbies’ ability to slow down and steal possession will have given the composite AUNZ team all the footage they need — and without the same level of familiarity the Lions enjoyed against the Super sides, this “Barbarians-style” matchup brings an element of unpredictability.
Les Kiss, future Wallabies head coach and current AUNZ boss, has called on his squad to embrace the rare honour. The last time an ANZAC-style team faced the Lions was in 1989, and this group — featuring Hoskins Sotutu, Shannon Frizell, Marika Koroibete and Ngani Laumape — are out to make it memorable.
The Lions, meanwhile, have bolstered their squad with Owen Farrell, who slots onto the bench after Elliot Daly’s injury. Marcus Smith remains in the 23, while Ben White gets his first start of the tour. Up front, the loose trio of Jac Morgan, Henry Pollock and Ben Earl brings energy and edge, while captain Tadhg Beirne anchors the pack alongside James Ryan.
It’s a game loaded with quality, intensity and audition — both for starting jerseys and for Test match readiness.
British & Irish Lions
Starting XV:
15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Ben White, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Henry Pollock, 5 Tadhg Beirne (c), 4 James Ryan, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Bench: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Andrew Porter, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Owen Farrell
ANZAC – 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 AJ Lam, 13 Ngani Laumape, 12 David Havili (cc), 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Pete Samu, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (cc), 4 Angus Blyth, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Aidan Ross
Bench: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Joshua Fusitu’a, 18 George Dyer, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Joe Brial, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Jock Campbell
Other matches this weekend:
