‘Super cool’ Siya Kolisi provides instant lift as injury-hit Stormers prepare for Edinburgh test

The Stormers could unleash two-time World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi for Friday night’s United Rugby Championship clash against Edinburgh, as a mounting back-row injury crisis forces the squad’s hand in Scotland.

Ahead of the round-two encounter in Scotland, the Capetonians confirmed that loose forwards Evan Roos and Marcel Theunissen have been sent home to South Africa after suffering injuries prior to Friday’s bonus-point victory over Connacht.

Speaking to the media on Monday, forwards coach Rito Hlungwani revealed the pair were back in Cape Town seeing specialists — Roos with a hamstring issue and Theunissen with a calf strain.

With both players sidelined and their timelines for recovery still unknown, attention has swiftly turned to Kolisi, who joined the squad last week and was spotted warming up with the group ahead of the Connacht match.

When pressed on whether the 35-year-old flanker could feature in the matchday 23 on Friday, Hlungwani remained coy, noting with a smile that the team “will be released on Thursday”. He did, however, confirm that no other returning Springboks would be added to the squad for this leg of the tour.

Hlungwani highlighted Kolisi’s ability to cover positions across the entire back row, making his potential inclusion a timely boost for John Dobson’s charges in the absence of No 8 Roos and the versatile Theunissen.

In their absence in Galway, former Junior Springbok star Riley Norton, originally named at lock, delivered a massive performance at blindside flank, while Connor Evans also impressed off the bench.

Kolisi’s presence, however, has already provided a major psychological lift to the squad following their opening-round victory. His contribution on the field on Friday night could yield an even greater impact.

“It’s really good for the players to see that it’s not the Springbok captain, a superstar player coming to join them, but a humble player who is just like any one of them — willing to work hard, willing to belong, willing to be accepted by the team,” Hlungwani said.

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“He really wants to be part of this team, and he’s used his actions to show it. You can see that in how he made that travel sacrifice… It just shows the type of guy that he is, and it’s something we all respect and appreciate.”

Dynamic loose forward Hacjivah Dayimani admitted the squad were kept completely in the dark about Kolisi joining the tour, describing his unexpected arrival in Ireland as “super cool”.

“We felt the energy from the moment he walked in,” Dayimani added. “He was trying to get the chaps up, trying to bring positivity.”

In further squad news, Springbok loosehead prop Ntuthuko Mchunu joined the group over the weekend, while utility forward Ben-Jason Dixon continues to be monitored as he recovers from concussion symptoms.

Both could be cleared in time for Thursday’s selection announcement.