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Rassie Erasmus Drops Siya Kolisi for All Blacks Test

8/22/2026

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Summary

Springboks Host All Blacks

Springboks will host New Zealand’s All Blacks in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry test at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Coach Rassie Erasmus left captain Siya Kolisi out, naming Paul de Villiers at openside because of a hamstring injury.
Damian de Allende will earn his 100th test cap for South Africa in the Ellis Park opener.
A custom ‘Greatest Rivalry’ trophy, designed by Strategy Creative, will be presented at kickoff.

Summary

Artists Craft Trophy

The series will have no tiebreaker, so a draw splits the trophy between the teams.
The trophy combines a black pakohe stone from New Zealand and a green verdite stone from South Africa, joined by magnets.
Maori artist Kereama Taepa designed the New Zealand half while South Africa artist Bonolo Chepape created the opposite side.
Former Springboks captain Gary Teichmann and All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick lifted each half of the trophy.

History

Historical Context

In 1995 South Africa hosted the Rugby World Cup, and on 24 June the final at Ellis Park drew 65,000 fans as the Springboks beat New Zealand 15-12 in extra time, a moment cemented by Nelson Mandela presenting the Webb Ellis Cup to captain François Pienaar. That victory linked sport to the nation’s post-apartheid reconciliation and underpins today’s renewed Springbok-All Blacks rivalry.

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Springboks Host All Blacks

Springboks will host New Zealand’s All Blacks in the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry test at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Coach Rassie Erasmus left captain Siya Kolisi out, naming Paul de Villiers at openside because of a hamstring injury.
Damian de Allende will earn his 100th test cap for South Africa in the Ellis Park opener.
A custom ‘Greatest Rivalry’ trophy, designed by Strategy Creative, will be presented at kickoff.

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