Read more
With the regular skipper ruled out of the match, Marco van Staden takes over the No 6 jersey.
Centre Jesse Kriel will captain the Boks against the Barbarians. Picture: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
Centre Jesse Kriel will captain the Springboks in Saturday’s season-opening match against the Barbarians in Cape Town, with kickoff at 5.10pm.
Kriel takes over the captaincy from regular skipper Siya Kolisi, who has picked up a “niggle”, according to a Springboks press release. The flanker was on Tuesday named as the captain for the match.
Kriel though will not become the Boks’ 67th Test captain as the match against the invitational side is not a Test match.
The two-time winning World Cup captain, Kolisi, was due to lead the Boks in their first match of the year. Following this Saturday’s outing in Cape Town, the Boks will face Italy in two Tests as well as Georgia in a one-off Test, before turning their attention to the Rugby Championship.
With Kolisi ruled out of the match on Saturday, Marco van Staden will wear the No 6 jersey and feature in a loose trio with Vincent Tshituka and Jean-Luc du Preez. Van Staden wasn’t part of the initial matchday-23.
The rest of the squad is unchanged.
Kriel made his debut for the Boks in 2015 and has played 79 Tests so far, including winning the World Cup in 2019 and 2023. He also featured at the global showpieces in 2015 and 2019.
The Barbarians team will be led by former Ireland great Peter O’Mahony. The side includes several former and current All Blacks, including Sam Cane and Mark Tele’a.
Boks team: Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel (capt), Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morne van den Berg, Jean-Luc du Preez, Vincent Tshituka, Marco van Staden, Lood de Jager, Jean Kleyn, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche. Bench: Marnus van der Merwe, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Neethling Fouche, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Manie Libbok, Andre Esterhuizen
