South Africa’s rugby team will be led by Siya Kolisi in the forthcoming two-Test series against Ireland, according to coach Rassie Erasmus who spoke on Wednesday. Despite previous hesitations over selecting an overseas-based leader, Erasmus declared that Kolisi, currently part of France’s Racing 92, is healthy and ready to command the team, at least for this series. He confirmed that both Willie le Roux and Cheslin Kolbe, essential members of the backline, are primed for play. However, the fitness of wings Edwill van der Merwe and Makazole Mapimpi, as well as that of scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, will need careful management. Canan Moodie, utility back, is slotted for availability during the second Test.
As part of his broader strategy, Rassie is planning an overhaul of the Springbok team in preparation for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, targeting an unprecedented third consecutive victory. This reconstruction, however, might be put on hold until the series against the world’s second-ranked team, Ireland, concludes. Rassie expressed relief at the surplus of time in this particular cycle, resulting from the 2020 season halt due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He stated, “It’s smoother now compared to after 2019, we now have 13 Tests… We can ease players gradually into Test matches and assess their performances.” He asserted that, while they could not achieve much in 2020, games like those against Wales in 2024 will serve as platforms to test new players. Additionally, new talents that impressed during this period are likely to emerge in the Ireland series, which he identifies as their most significant challenge this year.
On Saturday, in London, South Africa kicked off their season in style by triumphing over Wales with a score of 41-13. It’s notable that both teams were not at their full strength due to the match not being a part of the international window.
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