Johannesburg (AFP)
Wounded at one knee in late May, South African Siya Kolisi, the first black captain in his country's history, will make his comeback with the Springboks on Saturday against Argentina, in a World Cup match, and will for Captain Schalk Brits.
In the recovery phase after regaining the competition in Currie Cup, the domestic championship, Kolisi will not play the whole game, warned the coach Rassie Erasmus, who has chosen to entrust the captaincy veteran Brits.
At 38 years and three months, the former hooker Saracens, who will only know his second tenure in selection, eleven years after the first, will become the second oldest captain of the Springboks, behind the former second-line Victor Matfield ( 38 years and 172 days).
For his return to the team, Kolisi must "him to test a test match," said Erasmus. "I asked Siya to empty his tank and hurt himself as long as he can," he added.
After the victory in Argentina, synonymous with a win in the Rugby Championship on Saturday (46-13), Erasmus has made his entire starting team turn around, 15 changes.
If Kolisi is sure to be at the World Cup, the match against the Pumas is an opportunity for many of his teammates to get a place on the plane for Japan. Especially for the Toulouse Rynhardt Elstadt, selected for the first time in July against Australia - at the age of 29 - and who has a new chance to be appreciated in the third line.
The starting XV against Argentina: Gelant - Nkosi, Kriel, Esterhuizen, Leyds - (o) E. Jantjies, (m) Reinach - Elstadt, M. Coetzee, Kolisi - De Jager, RG Snyman - Koch, Brits (cap .), T. of the Roof
Alternates: Ntubeni, Gqoboka, W. Louw, Orie, Van Staden, K. Smith, De Klerk, F. Steyn
© 2019 AFP