Springboks ‘hopeful’ Siya Kolisi Will Recover Proper From Knock’ for Second All Blacks Test
Springboks scrum coach Daan Human says South Africa are hopeful that Siya Kolisi will be fit for the second Test match against the All Blacks.
Kolisi sustained a facial injury from a high tackle by Sam Cane that was deemed to be no more than a penalty in the clash at Ellis Park.
The All Blacks flanker has not been cited for his tackle, which Humaan said was out of their control and up to World Rugby but hopes that the Springboks skipper will be fit for the clash in Cape Town.
Siya Kolisi’s fitness
“Siya is an important player for us and hopefully he can make a good recovery, but if he’s ruled out, the next guy will step in,” Human said on Monday.
“We are blessed to have a lot of depth in the team, and we have full faith in the whole group to do the job.
“I think it was actually a proper knock but I can’t go into what the refs and the TMOs saw, we’ve just seen what we’ve seen but hopefully, he can recover soon and get better son and hopefully, he can be fit to play the game.”
The citing commissioner’s window has closed to further punish Cane who will be available to Scott Robertson for selection this week.
However, Humaan was not willing to delve into the reasoning for the decision to not issue a card to the flanker.
“Listen, it’s up to World Rugby to decide whether it was a red card or supposed to be a red card or yellow card,” the Bok coach said.
“I don’t think we’ll ever go into the ref’s decisions and World Rugby’s decisions on that so I mean it’s part of the past we’re looking forward.
“We’re looking forward to Saturday it’s not really relevant it’s part of the past.
Sam Cane's tackle on Siya Kolisi.#RSAvNZL #RugbyChampionship pic.twitter.com/9oP0bMYuBH
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) September 1, 2024
The Springboks usually announce their team for a Saturday Test match on a Tuesday, however, they have changed tack this week with Rassie Erasmus set to reveal his team for the second match against the All Blacks on Thursday.
Kolisi’s fitness could be a reason for the delay in the team announcement but Humaan said that he would leave to head coach Erasmus to explain why the team announcement has been delayed.
“I don’t think there is a particular reason, I’ll put it like this Rassie will have to answer that one,” he said.
If Kolisi is not available for the clash after Erasmus initially said that it ‘looked like a fracture’, the Springboks are not short on options to fill his void with Kwagga Smith and Marco van Staden the likely front runners to start in the number six jumper.
Meanwhile, the likes of Pieter-Steph du Toit, Bongi Mbonambi, Eben Etzebeth and Salmaan Moerat could skipper the side.
