Victim of a partial tear in the anterior cruciate ligament of the right leg a month ago, the captain of South Africa and future player of Racing 92 Siya Kolisi could still be selected for the World Cup even if he is not 100% for the Springboks’ first game.
Like Anthony Jelonch or Gaëtan Barlot in France, Siya Kolisi has also started a time trial in the hope of being restored for the World Cup, which will be held from September 8 to October 28 in the hexagon. The third line, who will turn 32 next month, lifted the Webb Ellis trophy four years ago in Japan, and he hopes to be present in France to try to achieve the double.
But a month ago, with his Sharks team against Munster in the Champions Cup, he partially tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right leg, and both menisci were also affected. After consulting three knee specialists, he decided to have surgery. This Thursday, the Sprinkboks staff spoke about the case of their emblematic captain and said they still had hope.
Racing is waiting for him after the World Cup
“The basic argument is that he is our captain. We will not replace him in his role as captain, we will have substitute captains, South African director of rugby Rassie Erasmus told a press conference in Cape Town on Thursday. We hope, given his passing time (in his recovery) that he can play one of these matches. South Africa has been placed in Group B and will face Scotland on September 10 in Marseille, Romania on September 17 in Bordeaux, Ireland on September 23 at the Stade de France and Tonga on October 1 in Marseille.
And the reigning world champions are ready to do without him at the start of the competition: “Even if he is not 100% ready for the game against Scotland, there will be time until the World Cup final,” admitted Erasmus. Same story on the side of Jacques Nienaber, the coach: “We will give him as much time as possible. The past has shown that he does not need to participate in preparation matches before a World Cup. “Hoping for Racing 92, the club where he joined after the World Cup, that Kolisi does not hurt himself more seriously by wanting to come back faster…
