There’s a new man in charge for the Springboks this weekend.
Jesse Kriel has been named captain of South Africa for the very first time, stepping in after Siya Kolisi was withdrawn on Friday due to a minor injury ahead of their Qatar Airways Cup clash against the Barbarians at DHL Stadium.
Head coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed the late change, with Marco van Staden drafted straight into the starting XV. He’ll partner Vincent Tshituka and Jean-Luc du Preez in a rejigged loose trio. The rest of the side, first named on Tuesday, remains unchanged.
Erasmus Eyes New Leadership Group
Erasmus also revealed that a long-term captaincy decision is looming, with several experienced players being considered.
“When the time is right, we’ll definitely look at a new captain,” Erasmus said.
“Siya definitely won’t play all the matches this year.”
The Bok boss namechecked the likes of Pieter-Steph du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Bongi Mbonambi, and Salmaan Moerat—all of whom have either captained South Africa or served as vice-captains in recent years.
Kriel now joins that leadership mix. The former Blue Bulls fullback, who made his debut back in 2015, has earned 79 caps and will lead his country out for the first time on Saturday.
Springbok Team to Face Barbarians – Qatar Airways Cup
Backs
15. Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 11 caps, 35 pts (7T)
14. Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath) – 40 caps, 111 pts (18T, 3C, 5P)
13. Jesse Kriel (c) (Canon Eagles) – 79 caps, 90 pts (18T)
12. Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 87 caps, 55 pts (11T)
11. Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 24 caps, 90 pts (18T)
10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 8 caps, 52 pts (14C, 48P)
9. Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions) – 2 caps
15. Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 11 caps, 35 pts (7T)
14. Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath) – 40 caps, 111 pts (18T, 3C, 5P)
13. Jesse Kriel (c) (Canon Eagles) – 79 caps, 90 pts (18T)
12. Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 87 caps, 55 pts (11T)
11. Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 24 caps, 90 pts (18T)
10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 8 caps, 52 pts (14C, 48P)
9. Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions) – 2 caps
8. Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks) – 14 caps, 10 pts (2T)7. Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 2. Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 76 caps, 105 pts (21T)
uncapped
6. Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 25 caps, 10 pts (2T)
5. Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 66 caps, 25 pts (5T)
4. Jean Kleyn (Munster) – 7 caps
3. Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Emirates Lions) – uncapped
6. Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls) – 25 caps, 10 pts (2T)
5. Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 66 caps, 25 pts (5T)
4. Jean Kleyn (Munster) – 7 caps
3. Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Emirates Lions) – uncapped
- Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 39 caps
Power Rankings: British & Irish Lions Tier List – Who’s Leading the Race for a Test Jersey?
This evolving tier list ranks players from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales by likelihood of starting the Lions Test matches, considering form, experience, versatility, and injury status.
We will release weekly updates throughout the build-up to the tour, reflecting changes in form, injuries, and squad developments — so stay tuned for the latest insights!
Tier Legend:
- ? S Tier – Near-lock for the Test XV
- ? A Tier – Strong favourite, very likely starter
- ? B Tier – In contention, bench or squad player
- ? C Tier – Outside shot, needs big tour to break in
- ? D Tier – Unlikely barring injury or drastic changes
Hookers
| Player | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dan Sheehan | ? S | The standout hooker; dynamic around the field and solid on set-piece. |
| Rónan Kelleher | ? B | Reliable and strong bench option, pushing for Test starts if form holds. |
| Luke Cowan-Dickie | ? C | Experienced, but behind the Irish duo in pecking order. |
Props
Loosehead
| Player | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ellis Genge | ? A | Outstanding performance against Argentina pushes him ahead of Porter. |
| Andrew Porter | ? B | Strong but edged out by Genge’s recent form. |
| Pierre Schoeman | ? C | Reliable backup option. |
Tighthead
| Player | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tadhg Furlong | ? A | Still top choice, though fitness is a factor. |
| Will Stuart | ? B | Now ahead of Bealham, who drops to C. |
| Finlay Bealham | ? C | Depth option behind Stuart. |
Second Row
| Player | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maro Itoje | ? S | The clear Test starter and captain; dominant on all fronts. |
| Tadhg Beirne | ? A | Versatile lock/blindside with great skillset. |
| Joe McCarthy | ? B | Rising star with big potential. |
| Ollie Chessum | ? B | Mobile and aggressive, pushing for Test role. |
| James Ryan | ? C | Injuries and dips in form have slowed him down. |
Back Row
| Player | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Curry | ? A | If fully fit, a starting candidate for back row. |
| Ben Earl | ? B | Solid contender but competition fierce. |
| Josh van der Flier | ? B | World-class but form is slightly inconsistent recently. |
| Jac Morgan | ? B | Welsh leader, in the mix for bench or rotation. |
| Jack Conan | ? C | Experienced but behind younger options. |
Scrum-halves
| Player | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jamison Gibson-Park | ? A | Likely starting 9 if fit. |
| Tomos Williams | ? B | Promoted ahead of Alex Mitchell based on impact and experience. |
| Alex Mitchell | ? C | Solid but currently third in pecking order. |
Fly-halves
| Player | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Finn Russell | ? S | Clear Test starter with creativity and control. |
| Fin Smith | ? A | Emerging star, surpassing Marcus Smith as main backup. |
| Marcus Smith | ? C | Has struggled at fullback; Test fly-half spot unlikely. |
Centres
| Player | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bundee Aki | ? A | Midfield mainstay. |
| Huw Jones | ? B | Now ahead of Ringrose for his attacking prowess. |
| Sione Tuipulotu | ? B | Versatile and strong option, deserving of B tier status. |
| Garry Ringrose | ? C | Dropped slightly due to injury/form. |
Wings
| Player | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Duhan van der Merwe | ? S | Test starter. |
| James Lowe | ? A | Reliable threat. |
| Tommy Freeman | ? B | Moves ahead of Hansen due to recent form. |
| Mack Hansen | ? C | Slight drop due to injuries/form. |
Fullbacks
| Player | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blair Kinghorn | ? A | Now ahead of Keenan, though may join squad later due to club commitments. |
| Hugo Keenan | ? B | Slightly edged down but still a strong option. |
| Elliot Daly | ? D | Utility back role. |
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Can You Name Every 2021 British & Irish Lions Player?
Think you remember the 2021 Lions tour of South Africa? It’s been a few years since that brutal, bruising, and controversial Test series — but true rugby heads never forget.
- 42 players were named in Warren Gatland’s final squad
- The Lions won the First Test 22-17, but the Springboks hit back to win the series 2-1
- The decider? A gritty 19-16 Springbok victory that still stings for many fans
Now it's time to test your memory.
- How many of those 42 Lions can you name?
- No hints. No positions. Just rugby IQ.
- You’ve got 5 minutes.
Take the quiz, scroll down, and start typing.
Let’s see what you’re made of.
Let’s see what you’re made of.
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