Erasmus names team for Italy Test

Springbok coach, Rassie Erasmus, has named an experienced match-day 23 for their opening game of the second phase of the 2026 Nations Championship against Italy in Turin on Saturday.

Salmaan Moerat will make his first appearance in the green and gold this season, partnering Ruan Nortje in the second row.

The physical forward pack will feature Ox Nche, Thomas du Toit, and Malcolm Marx in the front row, while captain Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Jasper Wiese will make up the loose trio.

The Springbok backline is equally settled, with halfbacks Morne van den Berg and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu set to dictate play.

They will be joined by the experienced midfield pairing of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel, while Ethan Hooker, Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Damian Willemse will form an exciting back three.

The Springboks currently top the Southern Hemisphere standings, level on 15 points with New Zealand, but ahead on points difference.

The team will then travel to Paris to face France on Friday, 13 November, before heading to Dublin for their final pool match against Ireland on Saturday, 21 November. The competition will conclude with Finals Weekend, which ends on Sunday, 29 November.

Rassie Erasmus has named the #Springboks team for Saturday’s Test against Italy in Turin – more here: https://t.co/m0U982oDkt
Stream all the action LIVE on DStv: https://t.co/qFpxGWMbDp
#ForeverGreenForeverGold https://t.co/6GH1tJxBXE

— Springboks (@Springboks) November 2, 2026

Written by: Ntsako Mukhari