Weekend Preview: Springboks kick off Test season against Italy

After a hit out against the Barbarians in Cape Town, Rassie’s Springboks open their 2025 Test campaign against Italy at Loftus! Here’s your weekend Preview:

Springboks vs Italy

Saturday 5 July | 🕔 17:10 SAST | Pretoria – Loftus Versfeld

Preview:

After a mouth-watering 54‑7 statement over the Barbarians, Rassie’s Springboks roll out a near-full strength pack—complete with debutant Vincent Tshituka at flank. Italy, with seven changes and a youthful bench, head to Pretoria for a baptism of fire. The Boks’ high tempo and forward base will be key, and Italy are unlikely to hold firm under sustained pressure. 

The Breakdown boys give Springboks the big thumbs up

Springboks:

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel (c), 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt‑Lee Arendse, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Morné van den Berg,

8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Vincent Tshituka*, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nché

16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Jan‑Hendrik Wessels, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Faf de Klerk, 23 Willie le Roux

(* uncapped)

Italy:

1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 3 Simone Ferrari, 4 Niccolò Cannone (c), 5 Andrea Zambonin, 6 Alessandro Izekor, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 10 Giacomo Da Re, 11 Simone Gesi, 12 Marco Zanon, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 14 Louis Lynagh, 15 Jacopo Trulla

16 Pablo Dimcheff, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Matteo Canali, 20 Ross Vintcent, 21 David Odiase, 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Giulio Bertaccini

New Zealand vs France

Saturday 5 July | 🕘 09:05 SAST | Dunedin – Forsyth Barr Stadium

Preview:

The All Blacks open the July Tests with a solid and largely familiar XV. Coach Scott Robertson brings in four debutants—Fabian Holland, Christian Lio‑Willie, Ollie Norris, and Du’Plessis Kirifi—to freshen things up. With Ardie Savea moving to openside and Tupou Vaa’i at blindside, this is experience augmented with youth. France arrive with eight starters uncapped, led by veteran Gaël Fickou. Expect New Zealand to lay down a powerful marker up front from the first whistle. 

Barrett: All Blacks not ‘disrespected’ by France

New Zealand:

15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cam Roigard,

8 Christian Lio‑Willie*, 7 Ardie Savea (vc), 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Fabian Holland*, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot

16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ollie Norris*, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Samipeni Finau, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi*, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Damian McKenzie

(* denotes debutant)

France:

15 Theo Attissogbe, 14 Tom Spring*, 13 Emilien Gailleton, 12 Gaël Fickou (c), 11 Gabin Villière, 10 Joris Segonds*, 9 Nolann Le Garrec,

8 Mickaël Guillard, 7 Killian Tixeront, 6 Alexandre Fischer*, 5 Tyler Duguid*, 4 Hugo Auradou, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Gaëtan Barlot, 1 Giorgi Beria*

16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Paul Mallez, 18 Régis Montagne, 19 Romain Taofifénua, 20 Cameron Woki, 21 Jacobus van Tonder, 22 Baptiste Jauneau, 23 Antoine Hastoy

Argentina vs England

Saturday 5 July | 🕤 20:40 SAST | La Plata – Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi

Preview:

England field another inexperienced side with 10 uncapped players after British & Irish Lions call‑ups. Flyhalf George Ford reaches a century of caps and co‑captains with hooker Jamie George. Argentina, fresh off a win over the Lions, bring depth and cohesion. Expect England to lean on Ford and discipline, while the Pumas test a fragile visiting bench. 

Argentina:

15 Juan Cruz Mallía, 14 Mateo Carreras, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Santiago Carreras, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Lautaro Bazán Vélez,

8 Juan Martín González, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera (vc), 5 Guido Petti, 4 Matías Alemanno, 3 Thomas Gallo, 2 Julián Montoya (c), 1 Eduardo Bello

16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Francisco Gómez Kodela, 19 Pedro Rubiolo, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Nicolás Sánchez, 23 Emiliano Boffelli

England:

15 Freddie Steward, 14 Will Muir*, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Seb Atkinson*, 11 Tom Roebuck, 10 George Ford (c), 9 Ben Spencer,

8 Tom Willis, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Ben Curry, 5 Alex Coles, 4 Charlie Ewels, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Jamie George, 1 Fin Baxter

16 Theo Dan, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Asher Opoku‑Fordjour, 19 Chandler Cunningham‑South, 20 Guy Pepper*, 21 Alex Dombrandt, 22 Jack van Poortvliet, 23 Cadan Murley

(* debutants)

The Junior Boks are also in action England on Friday!

Our Predictions for the weekend: