South Africa's captain Siya Kolisi has been left out of the squad for the first Test against New Zealand at Ellis Park on Saturday. Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus opted for the inexperienced Paul de Villiers instead, as Kolisi continues to recover from a hamstring injury sustained during South Africa's 17-10 victory over Argentina on August 8.

Erasmus stated, "Siya trained well with us this week, and although we could have selected him for this clash, we thought it would be best to select Paul. We are playing four Tests against the All Blacks and Paul has been playing well, so we are excited to give him a chance this weekend."

In a milestone moment, centre Damian de Allende will earn his 100th Test cap, becoming the 10th player in South African rugby history to reach this landmark. The Springboks have a strong recent record against New Zealand, winning five of their last six encounters, including a historic 43-10 victory in Wellington last September.

Erasmus emphasized the challenge ahead, saying, "They are a quality team and they're very well coached, so we are preparing for an 80-minute grind."

For New Zealand, Ardie Savea, Cam Roigard, and Will Jordan will all make their first appearances on this summer's tour. Head coach Dave Rennie expressed excitement about the match, highlighting the blend of experience and youth in his squad.

As both teams gear up for this fierce rivalry, the stakes are high, and fans can expect a thrilling contest on Saturday.