Springbok skipper Kolisi fit and ready to rumble against All Blacks
· Citizen
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that captain Siya Kolisi had passed his fitness test and was ready to rumble, and would also take over the leadership for the team’s must-win Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry clash against the All Blacks in Cape Town on Saturday.
At Monday’s team announcement Kolisi, who picked up a hamstring injury against Argentina earlier this month that ruled him out of the first Test at Ellis Park, was bracketed with rising talent Paul de Villiers for the number six jersey.
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Erasmus explained that Kolisi had to get through Monday afternoon’s training session to confirm his place in the side, while Pieter-Steph du Toit was named to continue as captain, as he was in the first Test last Saturday.
But at a press conference on Tuesday Erasmus explained that Kolisi had come through Monday’s and Tuesday’s training sessions comfortably, and was ready to play.
“It was a grade two hamstring injury, which takes a little bit longer (to recover from) which is why we have been really cautious,” explained Erasmus on the uncertainty surrounding Kolisi’s availability.
“Last week was touch and go (for him to play), and then on Sunday when he did a bit of rehab he said he was still feeling it a little bit. So we said he would have to run full out on Monday, which he did, and full out today as well, without any discomfort, so he is ready to go.”
Captaincy explanation
Erasmus expanded on why it was necessary to name Du Toit as captain at the team announcement, even though he knew that if Kolisi came through training successfully he would retake the reins.
“We talked about it on Sunday (with Du Toit and Kolisi) about why we were announcing Pieter-Steph as captain. If a guy has to go through a medical process on Monday and he’s also captain, it throws us into the middle of everything if his hamstring hasn’t cleared,” explained Erasmus.
“So Pieter-Steph took the captaincy for us on Monday, and that let Siya fully concentrate on his own job and his own work.
“Today, Pieter-Steph and I had a chat, and in a match like this, you probably don’t want to be dealing with captaincy things and a hundred other matters around you. You really want to just play well.
“What Siya means for us, for South Africa, means a lot. Siya is our captain. It’s not just his game, it’s also that he’s a very inspirational person, and a guy that means a lot to us on and off the field, in tough times and good times.”
With Kolisi passed fit it is official that the most experienced Bok team in history, featuring 1012 caps, will start the match against the All Blacks at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, and it could even get more experienced with Erasmus hinting that Cheslin Kolbe could be a late inclusion.
Revised Springbok team
Damian Willemse, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Ethan Hooker, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (capt), Ruan Nortje, Eben Etzebeth, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche. Bench: Deon Fourie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Lood de Jager, Andre Esterhuizen, Cameron Hanekom, Morne van den Berg, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu