FILE - Springboks captain Siya Kolisi chats to the referee during the Test against the All Blacks at Ellis Park. Kolisi trained with the Boks at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday. FILE - Springboks captain Siya Kolisi chats to the referee during the Test against the All Blacks at Ellis Park. Kolisi trained with the Boks at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday. Picture: Phill Magakoe / AF
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi trained with his teammates on Wednesday morning at Cape Town Stadium ahead of their Rugby Championship match against the All Blacks.
In the 15 minutes that the members of media were allowed on the pitch, Kolisi was seen having a conversation with Handre Pollard and Jesse Kriel in the middle of the pitch before the teams went into a huddle ahead of the session.
Kolisi suffered a blow to the face against the All Blacks at Ellis Park, coming off the field in the last few minutes. His face and left eye looked badly swollen at the post-match press conference, with coach Rassie Erasmus suggesting that he may have suffered a facial fracture.
The Springboks postponed naming the team this week, only announcing the matchday squad on Thursday morning, rather than the usual Tuesday press conference with Erasmus.
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi involved in training ahead of the second All Blacks Rugby Championship match.
— IG: johngoliath (@JohnGoliath82) September 4, 2024
It looked like the facial injury he suffered isn’t too serious. The Bok team for the match will be announced tomorrow morning at 9am.@IOLsport @IOL pic.twitter.com/NtzoHCKSNq
Erasmus also mentioned after the match in Johannesburg that he could rotate his charges again for the Cape Town Test.
The Boks have only announced one unchanged team this year, playing the same team in the two-Test series against Ireland.
There were a couple of noticeable absentees from Wednesday’s session, with wings Kurt-Lee Arendse and Makazole Mapimpi not taking part in training.
Arendse was seen sitting on the sidelines after he suffered a concussion against the All Blacks and will definitely miss the match.
Mapimpi, who was released from the camp to play Currie Cup rugby with the Sharks, seems to have remained in Durban.
Bulls wing Canan Moodie, who hasn’t played for the Springboks this year because of a hand injury, did train with the team on Wednesday and he could definitely be in with a chance to make the matchday squad.
The Cape Town Stadium looks in really good shape ahead of the Springboks’ Rugby Championship Test against the All Blacks.@IOLsport @IOL pic.twitter.com/yvvYzRmtEG
— IG: johngoliath (@JohnGoliath82) September 4, 2024
Another change in the backline could be the return of Lukhanyo Am to the starting team. Am is set to do media work later on Wednesday, which is normally a clue that he will feature in some way or another.
Prop Steven Kitshoff also had a full week of training with the Springboks and may feature against the All Blacks.
Kitshoff, who has been on the sidelines for many months with a knee injury, played Currie Cup rugby with Western Province over the last few weeks. Bok scrum guru Daan Human said the loosehead has been training well this week after getting some valuable minutes in the legs.
The Springboks will announce their team at 9am on Thursday morning.
@JohnGoliath82