In a surprising move, South African rugby coach Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that Siya Kolisi will feature in the upcoming Rugby Championship clash against New Zealand’s All Blacks on Saturday at Auckland’s Eden Park. However, Kolisi will not captain the team, as Jesse Kriel retains the armband following South Africa’s 30-22 victory over Australia in Cape Town two weeks ago.
Kolisi, widely regarded as one of the greatest leaders in modern rugby, had been sidelined due to a knee injury, creating uncertainty over his availability for this crucial match. Erasmus explained that due to concerns over Kolisi’s fitness earlier in the week, the decision to keep Kriel as captain was made out of fairness and consistency.
“Siya was touch and go for the match earlier in the week, and we didn’t want to risk him unnecessarily. At that stage, Jesse had already been named captain, and it was only fair to keep things that way,” said Erasmus, as reported by BBC Sport and ESPN Rugby.
Kolisi, 34, made history as South Africa’s first black captain in 2018, leading the Springboks to two Rugby World Cup victories in 2019 and 2023. Known for his leadership both on and off the field, Kolisi remains a symbol of resilience and equality, often using his platform to address social issues in South Africa.
The Springboks will face a formidable challenge as they take on the All Blacks, who are determined to bounce back from their defeat against Argentina. Rugby fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating this clash between two of the sport’s most dominant teams.
