Kwagga Smith or Jasper Wiese? Or Marcell Coetzee … or Deon Fourie?
These are simply 4 of the names which have been talked about as potential replacements for Siya Kolisi had been the Springbok captain to be dominated out of motion for a number of months due to a knee harm.
South African rugby followers are awaiting information of Kolisi’s harm, picked up within the early phases of final Saturday’s URC match towards Munster in Durban.
Some experiences have urged the 31-year-old, who led the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2019 in Japan, might be out of motion for 9 months if he undergoes surgical procedure to restore partially torn ligaments in his knee. If he opts towards the surgical procedure and solely has work performed on his meniscus he could possibly be out for 4 months — nonetheless placing his Rugby World Cup participation unsure.
Captaincy
While there are a number of choices to take over as captain of the Boks, amongst them Duane Vermeulen, Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am, Eben Etzebeth and Steven Kitshoff being the apparent candidates, discovering a like-for-like individual to wear the No 6 jersey in a balanced back-row might show much more problematic.
This is as a result of Kolisi is excess of only a chief and openside flanker. He is a strong defender and ball-carrier and a stealer on the breakdowns. His expertise is very large and his partnership with Pieter-Steph du Toit and Duane Vermeulen within the Bok back-row over the previous couple of years has performed a giant half within the staff’s success.
So, who might step in?
The excellent news is there are alternatives for coach Jacques Nienaber, and loads of them. Smith is snug throughout all three back-row positions, Wiese in all probability too, whereas Coetzee has additionally moved round six, seven and eight.
Marco van Staden has expertise and has been in good kind for the Bulls and ticks many bins, whereas Elrigh Louw and Evan Roos have their robust factors.
Ticking the best bins
Fourie although, who solely made his Bok debut final yr on the age of 35, could possibly be Nienaber’s go-to man.
One one who charges Fourie extremely is former World Cup winner Joel Stransky.
Speaking to The Citizen this week in regards to the upcoming URC quarter-finals, the now commentator and analyst mentioned Fourie’s current absence due to harm from the Stormers staff had coincided with the defending URC champions dropping a few of their momentum of late.
(*6*) mentioned Stransky.
“It just shows how important he is to a team … he has this ability to slow down the opposition’s ball and that impacts a team’s attacking threat and structure. And let’s not forget how good he is winning breakdown ball.”
As rugby followers look forward to information on Kolisi, South Africa’s free forwards might be eager to get caught in and present why they need to get the Bok No 6 jumper.
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