In Gqeberha, where the sea wind often carries whispers of resistance and revival, a new Springbok battalion takes to the turf — a side reshaped, reborn, and captained not by the usual centurion generals, but by a young lock forward with the steel of the Cape in his spine. Salmaan Moerat, towering and tireless, steps into the captaincy harness like a seasoned draft horse prepared to pull a chariot of green and gold warriors through the fire once more.
This Saturday, the Bok scrum resets under new pressure, not from opponents alone but from within — a recalibration of rhythm, a test of squad depth, and the symbolic passing of a torch. While stalwarts like Siya Kolisi rest their battered limbs, Moerat wears the armband — not as a placeholder, but as a pioneer steering this Test team into a future shaped by fresh blood and fearless belief.
He’s led before. And with Siya managing a niggle, we’re confident Salmaan will rise again. Leadership is not just about words — it’s about presence. And he’s got that.
Alongside Moerat’s quiet authority, Saturday’s clash against Italy also heralds a moment of golden significance for veteran fullback Willie le Roux, who earns his 100th cap in the same arena where it all began — against the Azzurri, back in 2013 in Durban. From debutant to centurion, le Roux has been a lighthouse at the back — steady, often brilliant, occasionally mercurial — but always Springbok to the core.
Willie has been a stalwart for us. Only seven players before him have hit the century. It’s a testament to the player and the team man he is. I’ve no doubt he’ll put the team first this weekend — that’s the kind of man he is.
But if le Roux represents the well-worn leather of Springbok legacy, three others bring the first glimmer of polish on a brand-new shield. On the bench, the uncapped trio of Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Cobus Wiese, and Ethan Hooker wait like matchday matchsticks — full of potential energy, waiting for the spark.
Ntlabakanye, the barrel-chested Lions prop who thundered through the Barbarians two weeks ago, brings brute force to the front row. Wiese, brother of Bok No. 8 Jasper, adds another chapter to a family saga, becoming the 37th set of siblings to don the jersey. And Hooker, the versatile back with a touch of stardust, completes a trio of players Erasmus says have “made a fantastic impression” at both franchise and national level.
It’s always fantastic to see siblings play together. And one can sense their excitement. It’s going to fire them up even more.
Italy, however, are no longer the punchbags of old. While South Africa has dominated 16 of the 17 previous encounters — including a 42-24 win in Pretoria last week — the scar of Florence 2016 still smarts. The Azzurri are no longer just pasta and passion; they’re punchy, persistent, and patient, with a backline that can sting if given space.
We know they’ll come hard at us. Last week’s review was honest and thorough. We need to shift gears — this week, it’s about pride, precision, and performance.
The team sheet reflects both experience and experiment. Thirteen World Cup winners feature — eleven in the starting XV, two on the bench. The front row boasts the gnarl and grunt of Thomas du Toit, Wilco Louw, and Malcolm Marx, while Moerat and Ruan Nortje lock down the engine room like twin pistons. The loose trio of Jasper Wiese, Marco van Staden, and Pieter-Steph du Toit carries the muscle memory of battles past.
Behind the scrum, Manie Libbok and Grant Williams form the halfback pairing — a balance of finesse and fire — with Andre Esterhuizen and Canan Moodie forming a midfield that blends crash ball and class. And out wide, the electric boots of Makazole Mapimpi, local hero and tryline tracker, combine with the fresh legs of Edwill van der Merwe, who scored on debut and now gets a second bite.
From the bench, the likes of Evan Roos, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, and Cobus Reinach add danger, depth, and dynamism. Should Ntlabakanye, Wiese, or Hooker enter the fray, it will mark the beginning of new Bok careers — fledgling flames in the great forge of Test rugby.
But Saturday’s story isn’t just about the scoreboard. It’s about Moerat’s measured leadership — calm amid the chaos of contact. It’s about le Roux, who once danced under the Durban lights as a wiry 23-year-old, now standing at the century mark — a player whose vision has so often been the invisible string-pulling attacking puppets across the field. It’s about brotherhood, legacy, and the power of rotation not as risk, but as renewal.
This is part of building toward 2027. We’ve said we’ll rotate, and this is about testing the squad’s spine — with youth, with experience, and with intent.
Gqeberha awaits. The Springbok scrum is set, the backs are coiled, and the shadows of both past and future stretch long across the Nelson Mandela Bay turf. Come kick-off, South Africa’s beloved rugby machine — this time led by Moerat’s quiet thunder — will look to rumble forward with purpose, heart, and a glint of something new in their eyes.
Watch for:
- Willie le Roux’s 100th cap (debuted vs Italy, 2013);
- Potential debuts: Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Cobus Wiese, Ethan Hooker;
- The Wiese brothers joining Springbok sibling history;
- Libbok nearing 100 Test points (currently 98);
- Mapimpi approaching 50th Test (currently 46)
Kick-off: 17:10, Saturday, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
Broadcast: Live on SuperSport
