Bok captain Siya Kolisi is touch-and-go for Saturday, says Rassie Erasmus
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus explained that captain Siya Kolisi may just make the starting XV for the upcoming Rugby Championship blockbuster against the All Blacks.
Double World Cup winner Faf de Klerk joins Boks in New Zealand
De Klerk's inclusion in the squad increases the size of the group currently preparing for the first Test in Auckland to 36 players, after Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi remained behind in South Africa earlier this week to attend to family matters.
The livewire is the fourth scrumhalf in the touring squad after Grant Williams, Cobus Reinach and Morne van den Berg.
De Klerk was integral in the Boks' last two Rugby World Cup campaigns and played the full 80 minutes against New Zealand in the 2023 Final in Paris. A spate of injuries hampered his career since that night, but the 33-year-old featured off the bench against Italy and Georgia this season.
The Canon Eagles player knows how to win in New Zealand as he was in the starting XV for the Boks' famous 36-34 victory in Wellington in 2018.
The Springboks will face their archrivals, the All Blacks, at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday 6 September, before travelling to Wellington for their second match on the tour at the Sky Stadium on Saturday 13 September.
'Both teams will be desperate' - Rassie hails titanic clash with All Blacks at Eden Park
As the Springboks prepare to face the All Blacks at Eden Park, head coach Rassie Erasmus is embracing the challenge of taking on a side that has made the Auckland venue such an impenetrable fortress.
Caleb Clarke among six injured All Blacks unavailable for Eden Park showdown against Boks
The All Blacks are without the services of six players as they prepare for a blockbuster clash against the Springboks at Eden Park this Saturday.
Rugby Championship: Legendary prop James Slipper closing in on 150 Wallaby caps
As he closes in on a little piece of history, Australia front-rower James Slipper is taking a game-by-game approach to his career.