South Africa look set to tackle the All Blacks without Springboks captain Siya Kolisi in Cape Town in round four of the Rugby Championship.

Kolisi was forced off the pitch after the hour mark in South Africa’s 31-27 victory over New Zealand at Ellis Park and underwent an HIA – which he ultimately passed.

However, it is not a head injury that is set to rule him out of the Cape Town rematch but rather a facial injury.

Siya Kolisi to miss second All Blacks Test

After the clash, Kolisi’s face was notably swollen and while he had yet to be fully assessed by the doctors, Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus admitted that it looked like a fracture.

“It looks like a fracture to me,” Erasmus stated.

“I’m not a medical doctor, I didn’t explain Eben’s injury well on Tuesday but I do think it is a fracture.

“The doctor will have to look at it, he doesn’t always look like this,” the Bok boss joked.

Erasmus did state that the Springboks would be making changes to the starting XV for the second Test match anyway and when Kolisi was rested in the second clash against the Wallabies in Australia, it was Marco van Staden who claimed the starting number six jumper.

He could well do so again while Kwagga Smith is another option for the openside flanker role.

As for the captaincy, lock Salmaan Moerat skippered the side against Australia and Portugal this year and could well fill the role after missing the first Test against the All Blacks through concussion.

Pieter-Steph du Toit is another who has captained the Springboks this year while Eben Etzebeth has also filled the role when Kolisi has not been on the pitch doing so again at Ellis Park. Finally, hooker Bongi Mbonambi could take on the role having led the Boks twice in 2023.

Rugby Championship title tilt

The Springboks head to Cape Town with the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the table having won all three of their matches.