Springboks Include 19-Year-Old Flanker Siya Mthethwa in 35-Man Squad for All Blacks Series

The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has named a 35-man squad for the upcoming three-test series against New Zealand, and the selection includes a significant surprise: 19-year-old flanker Siya Mthethwa, who has played just four Super Rugby Pacific matches for the Sharks this season.

Mthethwa, born in Pietermaritzburg and a product of the Sharks' academy, made his Super Rugby debut in February 2026 against the Chiefs in Hamilton. In his four appearances, the 1.91m, 105kg flanker recorded 34 tackles with a 92% success rate, two turnovers, and 18 carries for 87 meters — numbers that caught the attention of the Springbok coaching staff.

Head coach Rassie Erasmus defended the selection at a press conference at the SARU headquarters in Cape Town: "I've been watching Siya since he was 16 playing for the KZN Craven Week team. He has an instinct for the breakdown that you can't coach. Age is just a number — if you're good enough, you're old enough."

Erasmus noted that the decision was supported by data from the Springboks' performance analysis team, which uses GPS tracking, contact metrics, and video analysis to evaluate players. "The numbers confirm what the eye test tells you," he said. "Siya's workrate, tackle accuracy, and decision-making under pressure are already at international standard."

Former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers praised the bold selection in an interview with SuperSport: "Rassie has always trusted his instincts about young talent. Look at what he did with Cheslin Kolbe, who everyone thought was too small. This kid has something special — the way he reads the game at the breakdown reminds me of a young Richie McCaw."

Not all reactions were positive. Former Sharks coach Sean Everitt cautioned against placing too much pressure on a teenager: "Siya is immensely talented, but the jump from Super Rugby to test rugby against the All Blacks is enormous. The coaching staff need to manage his exposure carefully."

The squad also includes the expected core of experienced internationals: captain Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth (who will earn his 120th cap in the series), Cheslin Kolbe, and Handré Pollard. Notable omissions include Bulls flyhalf Johan Goosen, who was ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained during training last week.

The three-test series opens at Cape Town Stadium on July 6, followed by matches in Johannesburg (July 13) and Durban (July 20). South Africa leads the all-time head-to-head record against New Zealand 40-38, with four draws.

Source: South African Rugby Union press release; SuperSport interview.