The Springboks scored eight tries to one as they opened their season with a 54-7 victory against the Barbarians on Saturday, but now more serious attention will turn to their first Test of the year against Italy, with the hope that Siya Kolisi will be fit and ready to lead the team.
Kolisi had to be withdrawn from the team against the Barbarians due to an injury niggle, although the good news is that this was a precautionary measure.
“We always try to give players the best opportunity to be 100 percent on Saturday, but Siya has a stiff neck,” assistant coach Mzwandile Stick stated on the eve of the season-opener.
“There is no need for us to take a risk… But we don’t want to push Siya.”
Siya Kolisi to return as Springboks settle on selection
After the Barbarians clash, Rassie Erasmus confirmed that the Springbok teams for their upcoming two Tests against Italy, starting with this Saturday’s clash in Pretoria, have already been pencilled in.
Erasmus added: “We won’t get carried away with this performance because we have to take into account the other guys. Certainly some guys showed us that they can do it at this level, but we’ll layer them in to make sure there’s a balance.
“I think guys like Damian [de Allende], Jesse [Kriel] are a bit undercooked. Kurt-Lee [Arendse] hasn’t really played in a lot of matches either in Japan or didn’t come back to the Bulls.”
Pieter-Steph du Toit, who hasn’t played since November following shoulder surgery, could make his comeback in the second Italy Test at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
What did you think of the season-opening performance?
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