Siya Kolisi Ready for No 8 Challenge as Springboks Face Wallabies at Ellis Park

A new jersey, the same spirit

When Siya Kolisi runs onto the hallowed turf of Ellis Park this Saturday evening, he’ll be wearing a number he has never worn before for the Springboks: No 8. The captain, usually a powerhouse on the flank, will step into a role traditionally associated with giants of the South African game such as Duane Vermeulen and Jasper Wiese.

It’s not an unfamiliar position, Kolisi filled the role with the Sharks during the franchise season, but this will be his first time anchoring the back of the scrum in Test rugby. Speaking ahead of the clash against the Wallabies, Kolisi struck a calm but fired-up tone.

“My role will change slightly in the lineouts and scrums,” he admitted, “but otherwise it’s about doing my job. I’m not the same type of player as Jasper or Duane in terms of size, but I’ll bring what I can. The breakdowns will be massive, and as a loose trio we know what’s at stake.”

The Ellis Park factor

Ellis Park holds a special place in South African rugby history. It was here, in 1995, that the Springboks lifted their first Rugby World Cup trophy under Nelson Mandela’s watchful eye, a moment that stitched rugby into the fabric of a newly united South Africa. For Kolisi, the first black captain of the Boks and a two-time World Cup winner himself, leading the team onto that pitch carries an extra weight of symbolism.

Fans on social media have already been buzzing about the positional switch. Some see it as a bold tactical move that adds versatility to the squad, while others worry about losing the physical edge usually expected of a No 8. On X (formerly Twitter), hashtags like #KolisiAt8 and #EllisParkTest trended in the lead-up to the game, with supporters urging the Boks to “make it another historic Ellis Park night.”

Wallabies arrive with confidence

South Africa’s opponents aren’t arriving quietly. The Wallabies are riding high after their recent victory over the British and Irish Lions, and they’ll be desperate to prove they can unsettle the world champions on their own turf. For a side that has struggled for consistency, knocking over the Springboks at Ellis Park would be a huge statement.

But Kolisi has made it clear: this Bok side wants to be more than a World Cup machine. “It’s important for us to do well between Cups,” he explained. “We want to be the best in the world all the time, not only every four years. That’s why training has been brutal this year, especially for the forwards. We’re building depth, and we’re building a team that wins consistently.”

Beyond the World Cup mindset

For decades, the Springboks have had a reputation for peaking at World Cups but showing mixed form in between. Kolisi and coach Rassie Erasmus want to change that narrative. Building squad depth, rotating players, and developing new combinations are all part of the plan to keep South Africa at the top of world rugby rankings year-round.

And that’s where Saturday’s clash fits in. The Bok captain’s move to No 8 isn’t just a stop-gap, it’s a chance to test versatility, adapt to different styles, and prepare for the unexpected. As Kolisi put it: “Anything can happen in a World Cup. We want to control what we can now, by being the best every week.”

The rugby weekend ahead

The Rugby Championship kicks off with the Boks and Wallabies under the bright lights of Johannesburg, with kick-off at 5:10pm. Later that night, Argentina will host the All Blacks in Cordoba at 11:10pm SA time, rounding out a weekend that promises fireworks across the Southern Hemisphere.

For South Africans, all eyes will be on Ellis Park. The question isn’t just whether Kolisi can handle the No 8 challenge, it’s whether the Springboks can start this campaign with the kind of dominance that makes them more than just champions every four years.