Springboks issue huge new Siya Kolisi update for second Test with All Blacks
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Ready to rock.
The Springboks have received a huge boost ahead of Saturday’s second Test against the All Blacks, with Rassie Erasmus confirming Siya Kolisi is fully fit and will captain South Africa in Cape Town.
Kolisi had initially been bracketed alongside Paul de Villiers at openside when Erasmus named his team on Monday, with the Springbok captain required to prove his fitness during training before his involvement could be confirmed.
That uncertainty has now been removed, with Erasmus revealing on Tuesday that Kolisi has successfully come through the required training sessions and will start at No.6.
“Siya is 100 percent, he will be starting, and he will be captain,” Erasmus said.
“We told him he needs to be able to run full-out on Monday, and he did that yesterday and today [Tuesday] without any discomfort, so he is good to go.”
The confirmation means Pieter-Steph du Toit, who was originally named as captain for what will be his 100th Test appearance, will hand the armband back to Kolisi.
Erasmus explained that the initial decision to name Du Toit as skipper was simply designed to avoid another captaincy reshuffle if Kolisi failed to make it through training.
“The only reason why we announced Pieter-Steph as captain is if a player has to go through a medical period on a Monday, and he has to be captain and he withdraws in the middle of a training session because his hamstring didn’t last, then all of a sudden we have to switch captaincy again.”
Kolisi missed South Africa’s 33-16 defeat at Ellis Park after Erasmus ultimately opted to start Paul de Villiers at openside as the Bok captain continued his return from a hamstring issue.
Erasmus revealed that Kolisi was able to test the injury at full speed on Monday before coming through another session on Tuesday without discomfort.
His return provides South Africa with a major leadership boost as they attempt to level the four-Test series following New Zealand’s five-try victory in Johannesburg.
Erasmus has previously highlighted the qualities Kolisi brings at the breakdown and in South Africa’s defensive system, while making clear just how important his captain remains to the Springbok setup.
“For us and for South Africa, Siya means a lot.”
Kolisi’s inclusion also means the Springboks are set to field the most experienced starting XV in their history in Cape Town.
The starting side will boast a combined 1,012 Test caps, with Du Toit becoming the 11th Springbok to reach 100 appearances and prop Ox Nche set to earn his 50th.
