By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus said on Tuesday, Siya Kolisi is playing excellent rugby for French club Racing 92 and will be considered for South Africa this year, though he may not lead the side.
Erasmus officially unveiled former All Black flyhalf Tony Brown and Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery as his attack and defence coaches respectively.
He left his role as director of rugby to return as head coach of the Springboks ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia and has hinted that some of the ‘old guard’ will be phased out over the next few seasons.
But more intriguingly, Erasmus suggested that Kolisi might not captain the Boks in 2024, if he even plays at all.
Kolisi has taken up a contract with Racing 92 in Paris and has performed well for his French club in the first half of the European season.
Eighteen of the Springboks’ 33 players in last year’s World Cup squad were over the age of 30, including Kolisi, who will turn 33 in June.
Kolisi led the side to their second straight title in France after they won the 2019 tournament in Japan.
“Siya is playing some of his best rugby, but I prefer to have my captain locally-based as that allows for more interaction,” Erasmus said.
“This is a unique situation and I think he [Kolisi] will play some Test matches, he certainly wants to, but we are not sure about the captaincy.”
The Springboks have a two test home series against Ireland in July but have been in talks with Welsh Rugby about a one-off test at Twickenham before that. No deal has yet been finalised.
Meanwhile SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said on Tuesday SA Rugby were shocked to find out through the media that the unions are seeking legal advice about what SA Rugby have tabled for the hosting of Test matches.
The rugby body are said to be asking for a total of R85-million from the six hosting unions, while the respective unions get to keep the rest of the revenue from hosting their respective Tests.
The Lions and Western Province are being asked to contribute R20-million each for the right to host the Tests between the Boks and All Blacks.
From July’s matches against Ireland (two Tests) and Portugal, SA Rugby are looking for R35-million with the Bulls and Sharks expected to cough up R15-million each with the Cheetahs to pay R5-million. R10-million is expected from the Pumas for hosting Argentina.