Siya Kolisi is focused on earning his Springbok spot rather than retaining the captaincy, as former skippers Jean de Villiers and Corne Krige back him to continue leading.
Kolisi, who has captained the Boks 61 times, could become only the third South African to feature in four World Cups in 2027. At 33, the 92-Test loose forward knows competition for the No 6 jersey is fierce.
“We know there are many players competing for the Boks’ No 6 jersey. I will be competing against players who are much younger than me,” he told Sunday publication Rapport.
“To be honest, I’m not thinking about the captaincy. I just want to make the team.
“The most important thing for me is to have the chance to play for the Springboks. Whether I’m captain or not is not in my control. I just want to play well enough to be part of the team, and to hopefully make it to the 2027 World Cup.”
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Back at the Sharks following a brief stint with Racing 92 after the 2023 World Cup, Kolisi added: “My body feels good. It’s nice to be back home. I’ll start training hard again soon.”
De Villiers, meanwhile, believes Kolisi should continue as Bok captain but expects Rassie Erasmus to assess leadership options annually. “The big thing is always that the captain has to justify his place in the team, which Siya is still doing,” he said.
“I don’t think you need to announce a captain until then.”
Krige sees Kolisi as the natural leader for the next two years. “His presence on the team and the support he enjoys across the country makes an incredible difference,” he said.
“As long as he plays like he is now and doesn’t get injured, I think he can even remain captain until the next World Cup.
“The idea of just one guy leading the team hasn’t been a reality for years,” he added. “However, in my opinion, Siya is the man for at least the next two years.”
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Photo: Anton Geyser/AG Media
