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Four Boks who'll be out to make a statement OPINION: All questions will be answered, and all debates settled when the Springboks host the All Blacks in the first Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series at Ellis Park on Saturday. Rassie Erasmus named a formidable squad for the opening match, with a mix between players who ran out against Argentina and those who remained in South Africa. We look at four Bok players who’ll have all eyes on them for different reasons. Damian de Allende: The latest centurion The Bok midfielder will become only the 10th player in Springbok history to earn his 100th Test, and that alone makes this match one he will be hoping to turn into a blinder. De Allende will take to the field as part of South Africa’s most experienced centre pairing alongside Jesse Kriel, and reaching such a special milestone, against the All Blacks, no less, simply demands a top performance. Wilco Louw: The surprise tighthead The selection of Louw ahead of Thomas du Toit may have raised some eyebrows, but in a game where every strength will need to be amplified, and pressure will need to be built as early as possible, Louw’s selection makes sense. While Du Toit brings massive work rate, mobility, and an uncanny try-scoring edge, Louw offers pure brutality at the set-piece and is a stronger scrummager. Du Toit got the nod against Argentina, but he didn’t have the best outing, conceding an early scrum penalty and not exerting the dominance one would expect a Bok front-rower to have over a less-experienced opponent or three. That’s not to say he won’t be a great addition in the other Tests, but this one will lay the foundation and set the tone for the other tour matches, and there aren’t many better than Louw when it comes to stamping down authority at the scrum to earn the Boks valuable opportunities. Continues below… Paul de Villiers: King Kolisi’s Heir Presumptive Siya Kolisi is far from done, but the emergence of Stormers star De Villiers on the international stage has sparked debate and already has some calling him the Bok skipper’s successor…or even his replacement. While anybody who is capable of acknowledging Kolisi’s value in the Bok set-up would know that he isn’t one to simply replace, the manner in which De Villiers has taken to the number six role has certainly justified the excitement over his future role in the team. Kolisi limped off during the Boks’ narrow win over Argentina in Buenos Aires, and while he has missed out on selection altogether, Erasmus has confirmed that he is available for selection. Perhaps they are simply playing it safe and giving him time to fully recover. It is a four-Test mission, after all. De Villiers is a greater menace at the breakdown and had the whole rugby world talking after his performances in the Nations Championship against England, Scotland, and Wales. But will he be able to back it up against the All Blacks? Bar a World Cup, the occasion simply does not get any bigger than this. Manie Libbok: Brilliance on Repeat? Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu made his first start in Argentina two weeks ago following an ankle injury that kept him sidelined for almost two months, and while his talent can never be doubted, his rather rusty performance against Los Pumas and having such depth at No.10 will always make the selections in the position a talking point, especially if you’re as stacked with flyhalf quality as the Boks. With Handre Pollard and Manie Libbok the other two specialist flyhalves in the squad, Feinberg-Mngomezulu was the pick of the three. While he also started in the Springboks’ record win over New Zealand in Wellington, it was Libbok who steered the ship after Feinberg-Mngomezulu left the field due to injury early in the contest. Libbok was sensational in that game, and no mention can be made of the Boks’ brilliance without factoring in his influence. Feinberg-Mngomezulu is a baller like no other, but Libbok has shown how he can operate against the All Blacks. Few Test flyhalves can boast scorelines even close to that against New Zealand. Are we in for another Manie masterclass off the bench? And how will the uber-talented Feinberg-Mngomezulu go until he makes way for Libbok…will he be his normal, audacious self, or will he rein it in given the magnitude of the occasion? Your home for rugby. Download the RugbyPass app on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) now! Follow your favourite teams, tournaments and players, and get personalised news and Match Centre notifications direct to your device. From live rugby streams and upcoming fixtures to breaking news, in-depth analysis and live scores, RugbyPass has everything you need to stay connected to the game.