Springbok team: Six expert XVs picked for All Blacks Test at Ellis Park

Rassie Erasmus is set to name his Springbok side on Thursday for the opening Test against the All Blacks in the Greatest Rivalry series, but a group of rugby analysts have already made their selections.

The match at Ellis Park is expected to produce several straightforward choices, although Erasmus still has important decisions to make before confirming his team. The biggest questions include who will start at fly-half, whether Siya Kolisi and Ox Nche will be risked while recovering from injury, and which scrum-half will get the nod.

The make-up of the replacements is also uncertain, with the Springboks potentially opting for a 5-3, 6-2 or 7-1 split between forwards and backs.

KickOff Rugby, Nova News, Die Papier and The Rugby Factory podcast have each selected a potential South Africa line-up. Their choices show broad agreement in several positions, but there are notable differences at half-back, in the front row and among the replacements.

Craig Taylor (KickOff Rugby) selected:

15. Damian Willemse, 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Cheslin Kolbe, 10. Manie Libbok, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Jasper Wiese, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6. Siya Kolisi (captain), 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Ox Nche.

Replacements: 16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17. Gerhard Steenekamp, 18. Zachary Porthen, 19. Cobus Wiese, 20. Paul de Villiers, 21. Andre Esterhuizen, 22. Grant Williams, 23. Handre Pollard.

Sergio Miller (KickOff Rugby) also chose Damian Willemse at full-back and Jesse Kriel at outside centre, but switched the wings and selected Grant Williams at scrum-half.

15. Damian Willemse, 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10. Manie Libbok, 9. Grant Williams, 8. Jasper Wiese, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), 6. Paul de Villiers, 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Zachary Porthen.

Replacements: 16. Johan Grobbelaar, 17. Carlu Sadie, 18. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 19. Lood de Jager, 20. Deon Fourie, 21. Cobus Wiese, 22. Cobus Reinach, 23. Handre Pollard.

Dustin Wetdewich (Nova News) was the only selector to include Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at fly-half. He also picked Franco Mostert and Wilco Louw in the starting pack.

15. Damian Willemse, 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9. Grant Williams, 8. Jasper Wiese, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), 6. Paul de Villiers, 5. Franco Mostert, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Wilco Louw, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Ox Nche.

Replacements: 16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17. Boan Venter, 18. Carlu Sadie, 19. Ruan Nortje, 20. Marco van Staden, 21. Andre Esterhuizen, 22. Cobus Reinach, 23. Canan Moodie.

Stehan Schoeman (Die Papier) made only one change to the backline compared with several of the other selections, choosing Manie Libbok at fly-half and Cobus Wiese at lock.

15. Damian Willemse, 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10. Manie Libbok, 9. Grant Williams, 8. Jasper Wiese, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), 6. Paul de Villiers, 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Cobus Wiese, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Ox Nche.

Replacements: 16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17. Wilco Louw, 18. Gerhard Steenekamp, 19. Eben Etzebeth, 20. Marco van Staden, 21. Cobus Reinach, 22. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23. Canan Moodie.

Franco Havenga (Die Papier) included Edwill van der Merwe and Morne van den Berg in his starting side, while Cameron Hanekom was selected at blindside flanker.

15. Damian Willemse, 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Edwill van der Merwe, 10. Manie Libbok, 9. Morne van den Berg, 8. Jasper Wiese, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), 6. Cameron Hanekom, 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Ox Nche.

Replacements: 16. Marco van Staden, 17. Wilco Louw, 18. Zachary Porthen, 19. Lood de Jager, 20. Franco Mostert, 21. Paul de Villiers, 22. Andre Esterhuizen, 23. Grant Williams.

Andy Daniel (The Rugby Factory) made the most striking alteration in midfield, pairing Andre Esterhuizen with Jesse Kriel and selecting Ethan Hooker on the left wing.

15. Damian Willemse, 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Ethan Hooker, 10. Manie Libbok, 9. Grant Williams, 8. Jasper Wiese, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), 6. Paul de Villiers, 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Ox Nche.

Replacements: 16. Johan Grobbelaar, 17. Wilco Louw, 18. Gerhard Steenekamp, 19. Franco Mostert, 20. Cameron Hanekom, 21. Cobus Reinach, 22. Handre Pollard, 23. Damian de Allende.

Erasmus’ confirmed Springbok team will settle the debate on Thursday, including the choice of captain, the fly-half position and the balance of the bench for the first meeting with the All Blacks.