The double world champion Springboks unveiled their squad on Monday for the November tour of Europe. While the experienced leaders (Eben Etzebeth, Cheslin Kolbe and Siya Kolisi) are all present, a few young talents make an appearance.

Heavy artillery, very heavy artillery, but ultimately familiar faces too. Head coach Rassie Erasmus has named a 36-man squad for the 2025 autumn test series, during which South Africa will face Japan, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales among others.

Among those called up, several senior figures are naturally present; they include the giant Eben Etzebeth, already past 130 caps, but also the wing who has played for Stade Toulousain and RCT, Cheslin Kolbe, not forgetting their long-standing and emblematic captain Siya Kolisi. In all, 23 world champions feature on the list. Big names who were already out on the Stade de France turf on 15 October 2023 for that sadly painful (and traumatic) occasion for all of French rugby.

23 world champions

Erasmus will also use this tour to bring a few new faces into the squad: prop Zachary Porthen and hooker Johan Grobbelaar, to name but two, appear in a carefully prepared group. Also included is South Africa’s new gem, who scored 35 points against the Pumas this summer, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu. Among the absentees, hooker Bongi Mgonambi and scrum-half Faf de Klerk have not been selected.

The objective is twofold for the Springboks: on the one hand, to confirm the global supremacy they have shown since the 2023 World Cup and the last Rugby Championship; on the other, to rotate the squad while keeping a strong backbone, both to win and to build the next generation.

Enough to bring back some very bad memories for France, before they come face to face with their executioners in three weeks’ time (8 November, 21:00).

The Springboks squad for the autumn tour

Forwards : Lood de Jager, Ben-Jason Dixon, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Johan Grobbelaar, Jean Kleyn, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Franco Mostert, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Zachary Porthen, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman, Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Boan Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Jasper Wiese.

Backs : Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ethan Hooker, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Manie Libbok, Canan Moodie, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg, Edwill van der Merwe, Damian Willemse, Grant Williams.