Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has confirmed that inspirational captain Siya Kolisi is fully fit to start the second Test against the All Blacks at DHL Stadium in Cape Town.
Kolisi was bracketed alongside Paul de Villiers when the squad was named on Monday after missing the series opener at Ellis Park due to a hamstring strain. However, Erasmus put any lingering injury doubts to rest, declaring his skipper completely cleared for action.
“Siya Kolisi, 100 percent he will be starting as captain,” Erasmus confirmed at press conference in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
“It’s a hamstring, the previous big ones he had in 2019 and 2023 were knees. It’s not a hamstring injury where he ran full pace, it happened at a breakdown where he got cleaned from behind and it overextended.”
Erasmus explained that the coaching staff opted for patience rather than rushing the loose forward back into action prematurely in Johannesburg, where the home side suffered a 33-16 defeat.
“A grade two hamstring takes a little bit longer. Last week was touch and go and we felt that we can take a bit longer in terms of his rehab,” Erasmus said. “He ran at full speed on Monday and Tuesday without any discomfort, so he is good to go.”
Kolisi’s return provides a timely leadership boost for a Springbok side aiming to bounce back from their opening-match defeat, with Erasmus underlining the wider impact of his presence.
“Siya means a lot for the team, and for the country, on and off the field in good times and bad times.”
