Springboks hit with major injury concern ahead of All Blacks series
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Greatest Rivalry.
The Springboks have been dealt a potentially significant injury blow ahead of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series with the All Blacks after captain Siya Kolisi suffered another hamstring problem.
Kolisi was making his first international appearance of 2026 in Saturday’s 17-10 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires, having missed South Africa’s Nations Championship campaign with a hamstring injury.
However, the 34-year-old lasted just 24 minutes before being forced from the field, leaving the Springboks sweating on his fitness less than two weeks out from the opening Test against New Zealand at Ellis Park.
“I hurt my hamstring again, unfortunately. So, I’ll go for a scan and see how far it is,” Kolisi said after the game.
“It is really tough, but I can’t be sad about it. There is nothing I can do now, other than to go and have a scan and then see how long I’m out for.”
Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus was hopeful the setback would not prove too serious, with South Africa now awaiting the results of Kolisi’s assessment.
The injury was the major concern to emerge from an otherwise valuable outing for Erasmus, who used the Argentina Test to get minutes into several players returning from injury.
Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager were among those back in action as the world champions came from behind to secure a hard-fought victory.
Attention now turns firmly to the All Blacks, with the opening Test of the historic four-match series taking place at Ellis Park on August 22.
Kolisi’s availability will now be one of the biggest talking points in the build-up.
