Breaking news for Springbok fans! Jesse Kriel will captain the South Africa squad against the Barbarians in the Qatar Airways Cup at DHL Stadium this Saturday. This comes after a late change forced by Siya Kolisi's withdrawal due to a 'niggle'. Coach Rassie Erasmus announced the shift on Friday, leaving fans reeling from the unexpected change.
Kolisi's Injury: More Than a 'Niggle'?
Initially described as a minor issue, assistant coach Mzawandile Stick has clarified that Kolisi is struggling with a stiff neck. While Stick downplayed the severity, emphasizing that it's likely not serious, the coaching staff opted for caution. "As a team, we try and give players the best opportunity to be 100% on Saturday," Stick explained. "For Siya, it’s just a stiff neck, I don’t think there’s a need for us to take a risk."
He added, "The chances are by the time we go out for the kick-off of the game that Siya will probably be loose and 100%. But it’s situations like this that we always plan to build more leaders in our team." This suggests the decision was also strategic, aimed at fostering leadership within the squad.
Kriel Steps Up: A Leader Emerges
With Kolisi sidelined, Jesse Kriel, a veteran of 79 tests, takes the reins. "Now we have Jesse as our captain so congratulations to him, he has always been a leader so it was an easy call for us to make," Stick stated. "We didn’t want to push Siya, I don’t think it’s a major thing, it’s just a stiff neck and we don’t want to take a risk. But I am excited to see Jesse’s leadership skills. He has always been vocal and led by example so for him to get an opportunity to lead the team I think it’s something that is great for us.”
Kriel himself expressed his excitement and honour at the appointment. "I’m extremely excited and honoured," he said. It's a significant moment for the Canon Eagles player, marking his first time leading the Springboks.
Van Staden Joins the Starting Line-Up
In another change, Marco van Staden has been drafted straight into the starting XV as Kolisi’s replacement. He will partner with Vincent Tshituka and Jean-Luc du Preez in the loose trio. The rest of the squad remains as Erasmus announced earlier in the week.
Springbok Team Lineup Against the Barbarians
Here’s the Springbok team set to face the Barbarians in Cape Town:
- 15 Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
- 14 Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath)
- 13 Jesse Kriel (captain, Canon Eagles)
- 12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights)
- 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls)
- 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers)
- 9 Morne van den Berg (Emirates Lions)
- 8 Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks)
- 7 Vincent Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
- 6 Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls)
- 5 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights)
- 4 Jean Kleyn (Munster)
- 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Emirates Lions)
- 2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears)
- 1 Ox Nche
Match Details
The match kicks off at 17h10 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport. Don't miss what is sure to be an exciting game, as Kriel leads the Boks against a formidable Barbarians team.
What This Means for the Springboks
The late change presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the Springboks. While Kolisi's absence is a blow, it allows Kriel to showcase his leadership and Van Staden to prove his worth in the starting lineup. This game will be a crucial test of the team's depth and adaptability as they prepare for future challenges.