Kolisi appointed captain for Springboks’ second test against the All Blacks
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has revealed that Siya Kolisi has made a full recovery from the hamstring injury he suffered during the match against Argentina three weeks ago and is set to play against the All Blacks in Cape Town this Saturday.
Erasmus also confirmed that the experienced Springbok flanker will assume the role of captain for the Boks at DHL Stadium during the second Test of the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
Kolisi will join Pieter-Steph du Toit, who was initially poised to lead the team for the Test where he will achieve his 100th cap, and No 8 Jasper Wiese in the loose trio. Consequently, Paul de Villiers will not be included in the matchday squad.
The Springbok coach expressed that restoring the captaincy to Kolisi is also aimed at easing some of the pressure on Du Toit as he approaches this important milestone in his career.
“Siya will be starting and he will lead the team,” Erasmus told the media on Tuesday.
“It was a hamstring issue and not a serious injury like those he experienced prior to 2019 or 2023. It was a Grade 2 tear, which necessitated a careful recovery process, that’s why we took precautions.
“Last week, it was uncertain, but we asked him to run full out on Monday, and he did so on Tuesday with no discomfort, indicating he’s ready to play.”
On the decision to return the captaincy to Kolisi, Erasmus mentioned: “Pieter-Steph took on the captaincy for us on Monday to enable Siya to focus solely on his recovery and preparations. After discussing with Pieter-Steph today [Tuesday], he was in agreement.
“In this match, it seems best for Pieter-Steph to avoid captaincy duties while he gears up for his 100th game and strives to perform well, so Siya will be our captain.”
“The 23 players who played against Argentina did exceptionally, and it’s not just about his performance. He is a key motivational presence who is invaluable to this squad, both on and off the field.”
Reflecting on last week’s outcome in Johannesburg, Erasmus noted: “After reviewing the game on Monday, we felt we were quite dominant until around the 60-minute mark, but we struggled with precision in several areas.
“That’s what this week is for. Luckily, we still have three more opportunities in this competition to enhance and sharpen our game.
“Many of the tasks we asked the players to execute were completed successfully. The game plan didn’t win us the match, but it’s also inaccurate to claim the players lost it.
“I take responsibility for some of the choices made. We are a team, but it’s important to clarify the reasons for our loss, some of which rest more on me than on the players, frankly.”
Erasmus conveyed that although the Boks are still reeling from the defeat, their attention has shifted to this weekend’s match, with the ultimate aim of making their nation proud.
“I definitely feel nervous again,” he confessed. “We lost the first game, and if we don’t win this one, we can only draw the series. The nerves are definitely there. However, we’ve faced this level of pressure before, and hopefully, we can turn things around this weekend.”
The match will kick off at 17h10 and can be watched live on SuperSport.
Issued by SA Rugby Communications
