Rassie Erasmus has welcomed a massive boost for the Springboks ahead of their All Blacks game on 29 August. With the rugby’s greatest rivals’ second test coming so fast, Rassie cleared the storm around captain Siya Kolisi’s injury.
When he announced his squad before Tuesday’s training, Rassie had Siya and youngster Paul de Villiers together. However, after the full training, he revealed that the Springboks captain would be starting at number 6.
RASSIE ERASMUS WELCOMES THE SPRINGBOKS BOOST
“Yeah, Siya. 100% he’ll be starting,” he said, dishing out the good news.
“It was just a hamstring. The previous big ones [injuries] he had before the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups were to his knees. So this is not a knee. And it’s not a hamstring [injury] where he was running maximum speed. It was during a breakdown while he was trying to steal the ball that he got cleaned up from behind. And then he just overextended,” he continued, explaining the injury situation.
“A grade two-hamstring [tear] takes a little bit longer. And that’s why we’re just really cautious. I mean, last week, maybe touch and go. And then, on Sunday, when he did some rehab, he said that now, when he gets off the ground, he still feels it a little bit. But we said, well, okay, we’ll have to run full-out Monday. And he did full-out Monday and full-out Tuesday without any discomfort. So he’s good to go,” he finished, revealing how fit Siya is.
WHY SIYA KOLISI IS A MAJOR BOOST?
Arguably one of the greatest rugby captains in history, Siya Kolisi is a massive force. His presence in the dressing room lifts the Springboks’ spirits. He is a leader of the coming generation and a player who aligns with the older players.
On the pitch, Siya’s quality has been proven for years and years, as a massive part of the successful Springboks. Without him, the team has looked shaky, and they have not yet found a perfect replacement.
Now that he is here, fit and ready to go, Siya brings both a psychological boost to the team. Besides that, he is a player who connects the team with the fans.