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FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union – Rugby World Cup 2023 – Quarter Final – France v South Africa – Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France – October 15, 2023 South Africa’s Siya Kolisi celebrates after the match
Rugby World Cup-winning captain, Siya Kolisi, returns from injury to take over the captaincy for first time this season, for the Springboks’ final Incoming Series match against Georgia in Mbombela on Saturday.
In addition to his return, there will be a front row of debutants with Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe and Neethling Fouche who’ll earn their first test caps. The team shows 10 changes to the starting 15 that took on Italy in Gqeberha last weekend.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus’ efforts to give as many quality players as possible a chance to prove themselves on the biggest stage, has resulted in 46 players being used this season.
The rotation policy and innovative moves during the game raised eyebrows but Erasmus says it’s all for South Africa.
“I don’t know who’s the people who decides what is against the spirit of the game and who owns the rights to that so whoever play what way we are doing it for South Africa. We don’t do it for the rest of the world to say if it’s right or wrong, if it is within the game so. It’s a bit, I wouldn’t say frustrating but we must do it for us for our people for South Africa and the way we play. If they want us to be the dumb boring side who just bully all day, if they want that back, I don’t think our people want that back, so if it is not against any laws or rules or protocols as long as we are happy in South Africa, all good,” says Erasmus.
Erasmus says he was tempted to play Kolisi earlier, but he waited until the captain was 100% fit.
“It’s always nice to have him back, he’s our captain although we get guys like Jesse learning a bit or Damian de Allende who is vice captain this week, so we are growing also the experience of how to lead the team or what to expect when you are not the leader, we are really trying to mix it up,” Erasmus explains.
The players who retained their places in the starting line-up are Edwill van der Merwe, Canan Moodie, Grant Williams, Pieter Steph Du Toit and Ruan Nortje.
