In an announcement that delighted rugby fans and reaffirmed the leadership stability within the Springbok camp, South African rugby coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed that Siya Kolisi will retain the captain’s armband for the upcoming Castle Lager Incoming Series.
The world champions will make their return to the field against Ireland in Pretoria on Saturday, 6 July.
Kolisi, who plies his trade overseas with French club Racing 92, has been a talismanic figure for the Springboks, leading them to historic Rugby World Cup victories in 2019 in Japan and 2023 in France.
His retention as captain puts to rest any speculation about a potential change in leadership with a locally-based captain.
“Siya will be the captain and will again wear the No. 6 jersey,” announced Erasmus. “He’s fit and isn’t carrying any injuries.”
Erasmus also provided positive updates on several players who were nursing injuries following the recent Test against Wales, which the Springboks won convincingly 41-13.
“Where we are currently standing with injuries is that Cheslin (Kolbe) has been cleared to play, and we’ll manage Edwill (van der Merwe), Faf (de Klerk), and (Makazole) Mapimpi this week, although they should be available for selection for the first Ireland Test,” said Erasmus.
In addition, Erasmus hinted at the return of wing Canan Moodie, who recently underwent surgery to repair a fractured finger. Moodie’s return would be a significant boost for the team as they build towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
The 39-man squad, which was announced on Tuesday, includes a blend of experienced players and promising newcomers, reflecting Erasmus’s emphasis on building squad depth.
Among the new faces are four potential debutants: Phepsi Buthelezi, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar, and Morne van den Berg.
Erasmus highlighted the importance of nurturing young talent within the national setup. “We earmarked Jan-Hendrik Wessels from our Elite Player Development (EPD) system from under 15 level, when he was playing prop then,” said Erasmus.
“We don’t have control over where the franchises select the players, but with him being able to play hooker and prop, it offers us additional options among the forwards.”
He also praised Johan Grobbelaar’s performances in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, where he stood out as one of the top hookers for the Vodacom Bulls.
Similarly, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, another product of the national team’s development pathways, has shown his readiness to step up to the Springbok level.
“We are at a stage where we are trying to expose players to the Springbok environment as much as possible,” said Erasmus.
“We had four new capped players against Wales, and we have four debutants in this squad – Phepsi Buthelezi, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar, and Morne van den Berg. There could be a few more against Portugal if we achieve our goals against Ireland, so we could have a healthy new crop of national players later in this season.”
Erasmus emphasized the significance of the upcoming Castle Lager Rugby Championship as an opportunity to further assess the emerging talents.
“The young players who put up their hands against Wales and during the Castle Lager Incoming Series will certainly be looked at for selection.”
Looking ahead to the two Tests against Ireland, Erasmus remained cautious, acknowledging Ireland’s recent dominance over the Springboks. “If there’s one team that has the upper hand, it’s them. We haven’t beaten them since 2016.”
As the Springboks gear up for a challenging series, Kolisi’s leadership and the infusion of new talent are expected to play crucial roles in maintaining South Africa’s rugby dominance.
The Castle Lager Incoming Series promises to be an exciting chapter in the Springboks’ journey, with Kolisi once again at the helm, guiding the team with his indomitable spirit and proven leadership.
