Springboks’ captaincy conundrum continues
The Test rugby season starts in 47 days, but Rassie Erasmus is yet to make a final call on the Springboks’ captaincy for the upcoming international campaign.
Siya Kolisi has led the Springboks to back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles in 2019 and 2023, and having committed to continuing his international career, there would normally be no doubt over him continuing to lead the team.
However, at the end of South Africa’s success World Cup title defence campaign last October, Kolisi has headed abroad to join French club Racing 92, and it has raised the question of whether the Springboks will be able to be led by an overseas-based captain.
It now remains to be seen if an exception will be made, but what is already certain is that Kolisi will be unavailable for the opening Test of the year against Wales on 22 June as it falls outside the official Test window.
The Springboks’ backup captaincy candidates are Kolisi’s former Sharks teammates and close allies, Eben Etzebeth and Bongi Mbonambi.
RASSIE ERASMUS ON TOUGH CAPTAINCY CALL
But Erasmus has now come out and revealed that no official decision regarding the captaincy has been made and hinted at the possibility that Kolisi could well retain the armband if SA Rugby can come to agreement with his club Racing 92.
“We don’t have to make a decision (about the captaincy) now,” Erasmus told Netwerk 24, with Kolisi in attendance at the ceremony to support his coach.
“The first Test (against Wales on Saturday, June 22) will in any case fall outside the international window and there will then have to be a different captain. We will decide after that.”
“Chasing the Sun is finished, the World Cup is finished,” the Springboks boss explained.
“The coaching staff has worked hard. We are definitely going to give younger guys a chance this year. We must remember, in 2020 we did not play rugby due to Covid-19. We couldn’t play.
“So, we definitely need to start throwing in younger players.”
The world champion Springboks begin their season against Wales at Twickenham on 22 June, followed by a two-Test series against Ireland and a match against Portugal on home soil.
The Springboks will then shift their attention to the Rugby Championship, where they’ll play six Test matches, two each against the Wallabies, All Blacks and Pumas.
CONFIRMED SPRINGBOKS FIXTURES FOR 2024:
Saturday, 22 June: SA vs Wales (Twickenham, London)
Saturday, 6 July: SA vs Ireland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday, 13 July: SA vs Ireland (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)
Saturday, 20 July: Springboks vs Portugal (Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein)
Saturday, 10 August: Australia vs SA (Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane)
Saturday, 17 August: Australia vs SA (Optus Stadium, Perth)
Saturday, 31 August: Springboks vs New Zealand (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday, 7 September: SA v New Zealand (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)
Saturday, 21 September: Argentina v SA (venue TBC)
Saturday, 28 September: SA v Argentina (Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit)
16/17 November: England v Springboks (Twickenham, London – date TBC)
Siya Kolisi and Rassie Erasmus with the World Cup trophy. Image: BackpagePix