Siya Kolisi was one of several overseas-based players named in an extended 39-man squad for the Springboks’ upcoming July series this past week.
Kolisi is now plying his trade for French-based club Racing 92, and due to the fact that he is based overseas, it had raised an ongoing question mark over whether he would retain the team’s leadership.
However, the general expectation has always been that an exception will be made in order to retain Kolisi as captain, especially considering what an incredible influence he has.
On Wednesday, this was officially confirmed by Rassie Erasmus, who also hit back at Racing 92 owner Jacky Lorenzett, who had previously criticised Kolisi over a perceived lack of form and conditioning at the tail end of the season, saying he had “gained weight” and “was invisible”.
“Yeah, no, Siya will be captain and Siya will play No 6 flank,” Erasmus said.
“Siya’s fit and got no injury and Siya’s not fat and Siya’s not transparent,” the Bok coach added, with a smile.
22 forwards and 17 backline players make up the team’s most recent 39-man roster. The team will meet in Pretoria on Tuesday. Even though their flight from London to South Africa was canceled on Sunday night, they arrived in South Africa a day later than planned and would still follow their training schedule.
In preparation for the match against Ireland at Loftus Versfeld on Monday, July 1, the players will return home for the weekend to spend time with their family.
As we prepare for the 2027 Rugby World Cup and the Test match against Portugal, squad depth is one of our main cornerstones, so we named the best squad available for the Incoming Series, according to Erasmus.
“Unfortunately, a handful of players are carrying injuries and were ruled out of the selection mix, but our plan to build depth in the last few years and expose players to Test rugby in the build-up to the 2023 RWC and against Wales last weekend certainly paid off.”
KOLISI IS ONE OF SEVERAL WORLD CUP STARS IN THE SPRINGBOKS’ SQUAD FOR THE INCOMING SERIES:
FORWARDS:
Phepsi Buthelezi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ben-Jason Dixon (DHL Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks). Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Siya Kolisi (Racing 92), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92/Hollywoodbets Sharks), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Blu Revs), RG Snyman (Munster/Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers).
BACKS:
Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins/Hollywoodbets Sharks), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Wilie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions), Edwill van der Merwe (Emirates Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
