Fitness doubt Siya Kolisi will start Saturday’s Greatest Rivalry second Test versus the All Blacks in Cape Town
When the team was originally named on Monday, the double Rugby World Cup-winning skipper was one of two <a href="https://healthylife7.com/at-least-1-in-4-ex-nfl-players-who-died-from-2016-to-2021-had-cte-study-finds/” title=”At least 1 in 4 ex-NFL players who died from 2016 to 2021 had CTE, study finds”>players – the other being Paul de Villiers – named in the No.6 jersey pending a fitness update
This update arrived on Tuesday lunchtime with Erasmus confirming that the injury-affected Kolisi had come through training unscathed and would skipper the Springboks in their second match of four versus New Zealand
Kolisi’s 2026 Test season had been ravaged by injury. He was named to start the year opener versus England last month, only for a hamstring injury sustained at the captain’s run the day before the July 4 match in Johannesburg to rule him out
“Siya still had a bit of a niggle on Sunday…”
That left Erasmus calling up the uncapped De Villiers to start versus the English, and the Stormers rookie retained the No.6 shirt for the following two Nations Championship matches against Scotland and Wales
Kolisi was then named to start away to Argentina on August 8, but he only lasted 20 minutes due to another hamstring strain and that setback paved the way for De Villiers to start last Saturday’s series opener versus the All Blacks
With the Springboks beaten 33-16 in Johannesburg, Erasmus named both Kolisi and De Villiers at No.6 on Monday when announcing his second Test team. “Siya still had a bit of a niggle on Sunday, so he needs to get through training today, [Monday],” explained the head coach at the time
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“Obviously, we want to get him into the team, but he has to get through Monday’s training; that’s why he is bracketed with Paul. Pieter-Steph (du Toit) is staying as captain for now, but if Siya gets through training, we might make a change there too
“We just want to make sure that if Siya doesn’t get through, then at least you know we had the captain on the day. If he comes through, he’ll replace Paul.”
With Kolisi now confirmed as the Springboks starter at No.6 and also their captain for the match at DHL Stadium, De Villiers drops out of the matchday 23
“Siya is 100 percent, he will be starting and he will be captain,” said Erasmus on Tuesday. “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.”
Springboks team to face All Blacks in Cape Town
Springboks:15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Ethan Hooker, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox NcheReplacements:16 Deon Fourie, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Morne van den Berg, 23 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Venue:DHL Stadium, Cape TownDate:Saturday, 29 August, 2026Kick-off:17:10 (local SAST), 16:10 (UK), 17:10 (France), 17:10 (South Africa), 01:10 (23 August, AEST), 03:10 (23 August, New Zealand), 12:10 (Argentina), 00:10 (23 August, JST), 11:10 (EDT)Referee:Nika Amashukeli (GRU)Assistant Referees:Karl Dickson (RFU), Angus Gardner (RA)TMO:Eric Gauzins (FFR)FPRO:Brett Cronan (RA)
InternationalsSiya Kolisi
