Rassie opts for consistency for French blockbuster

November 9, 2026 5

Springbok coach, Rassie Erasmus, has opted for consistency ahead of Friday’s clash against France in Paris, making just two changes to the matchday 23 that thrashed Italy this past weekend.

Wilco Louw moves into the starting line-up, while Cobus Reinach has been included among the replacements.

Louw join Ox Nche and Malcolm Marx in the front row in the only change to the starting team. Thomas du Toit will link up with Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Gerhard Steenekamp among the replacements, while Reinach, comes in for Grant Williams as the other change to the matchday squad.

Lood de Jager and Ruan Nortje will once again partner up in the second row after Erasmus was forced to make a late change to his matchday squad in Turin last week following Salmaan Moerat’s withdrawal due to back spasms experienced during the warmup.

Captain Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Jasper Wiese will complete the loose trio.

Erasmus has also retained the same backline, with Morne van den Berg and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at halfback, Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende in midfield, and Ethan Hooker, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Damian Willemse forming the back three.

“We said from the outset that we would not rotate too much on this tour, so it was always our intention to select a settled squad for this game to build momentum in the competition,” Erasmus said.

“Most of these players have faced France at home and know what to expect from them, and they have also experienced their passionate and vocal crowd first-hand.”

Erasmus says the two changes were made with the quality of the French side in mind, as the Springboks look to maintain their momentum.

“Our front rows are well settled and have all been playing together for a few seasons, so we made a rotational switch with Wilco and Thomas, while Cobus is also very familiar with the French conditions as he played club rugby here, so we thought bringing him into the mix would be good against a quality French outfit,” he said.

Rassie Erasmus has opted for consistency, making only two changes to the #Springboks match-23 to face France in Paris on Friday – more here: https://t.co/QIZMGBmzkE
#ForeverGreenForeverGold https://t.co/fYQG1jYOOM

— Springboks (@Springboks) November 9, 2026