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Springboks coach provides update on injured captain Siya Kolisi
By Finn Morton
About 30 minutes after the full-time siren at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday evening, Springboks captain Siya Kolisi walked into the post-match press conference with some noticeable swelling on the right side of his face.
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Kolisi struggled to drink a bottle of water as coach Rassie Erasmus joked at the skipper’s unfortunate expense. Erasmus suggested the backrower had suffered a facial fracture during the Springboks’ thrilling 31-27 win over the All Blacks in Johannesburg.
“He doesn’t normally look like that,” Erasmus said, which was met with widespread laughter amongst those in the room. But away from all of Erasmus’ playful attempts to assess Kolisi’s injury, there is a serious side to this.
If the injury is confirmed to be a fracture, that would put the captain in doubt for this weekend’s clash between the same two rivals at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium. Interestingly, the Boks won’t announce their team publicly until Thursday so they’re giving Kolisi every chance.
When asked to provide an update on Kolisi’s injury status on Monday afternoon, assistant coach Daan Human didn’t give too much away. While the Boks have some impressive depth amongst their backrow ranks, fans will have to wait a bit longer for a definitive answer.
“I think they’re still busy assessing the possibility of being available for us,” Human told reporters at the team’s hotel. “We’ll see how he goes through the week but firstly, I think he’s important for us as well and if he’s not (available), next man in.
“I think it was actually a proper knock. I can’t go into what the refs and the TMOS and what they saw, we’ve just seen what we’ve seen.
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“Yeah, hopefully he can recover soon and (keep) getting better, and hopefully he can be fit to play the game.”
The Springboks will be without winger Kurt-Lee Arendse for the Freedom Cup decider with the speedster leaving the field with a concussion during the recent Test win. That’s one bit of bad news but the Boks could potentially make multiple changes for Saturday.
Human was asked specifically about the availability and likelihood of Western Province enforcer Steven Kitshoff coming into the team. The two-time Rugby World Cup winner has not played since last year’s Final at Stade de France – starting at loosehead prop.
“We also had a look at the guys and obviously ‘Kitsy’ has only been now back for two games. His second game back, I had a proper look at his game we had yesterday, they had a good win yesterday,” Human explained.
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“I think we will definitely consider it. We’re looking at all the options – all the guys in the squad are available.
“Obviously, there’s one or two guys with niggles but it will have an influence on our selection. Obviously, playing in front of his home crowd, he’s from here, can be a thing that we think about.”
Hey, no, this is the last straw Rassie!
I know he's "possessed" but you can't have Razors favourite player too!
I think they should leave Kolisi out even if he is fit to play. He has played lots of games this year and his body can probably do with a rest. Give Dixon another opportunity to redeem himself after last week's game. Back row with Dixon, PSDT and Wiese will do really well. Eben and Nortje (or Snyman if he is fit) at lock.
I know I will get some blowback here, but I think Buthelezi should also be in the mix (a real mongrel who will forever have my respect for playing 160 minutes against the B&I Lions in four days, leading an under-strength Sharks team).
And in my fantasy world, Juarno Augustus is drafted in for the Argentina games... Rassie? Take note: Trokkie and Hanekom are the future of the Bok 8.
After some of the disgraceful comments I've seen - and replied to in some cases, with some really shite responses - from AB supporters on other sites, frankly, I'm quite glad the music and the aircraft overrode the very long haka which was even longer if you consider the huddle for the Maori king. And hardly any of them could accept that the reffing was bad for both sides, especially the nonsense about the serial offender Cane's ridiculous tackling effort on Kolisi which should have been another yellow for him at least. When it comes to Bongi's try, Andre Watson was on Cape Talk with John Maytham this afternoon and felt that the TMO had many different angles to view and obviously didn't see anything wrong, and it appeared the ball went straight down anyway, but you'd never convince them will you. Whatever, I've lost any respect for them or their team (after 2011 I didn't have any respect for the NZRU anyway) and hope they get flattened on Saturday.
Yep, it is just not a try in the 'Traditional' mindset. To be overturned the TMO would need clear evidence that the ball made contact with Bongi's arm a second time (after Jordie knocks it loose), and I couldn't make that out with my video quality.
The main issue is that I saw/sensed something was wrong with it live. The ref shouldn't have needed TMO intervention in the first place.
So if the TMO was significantly involved as you say, then they looked closely at the Cane tackle and reasoned that there was suffificent mitigation to only be a penalty. Both the TMO and the ref acknowledged the tackle and settled on a penalty only.
Nice to see your insightful comments re the haka, it is only the Kiwis who are poor sports of course. You saffas are the most insecure, victim mentality fan base in the world...enjoy your wonderful team and stop being so petty.