Siya Kolisi during the 2026 Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry training session at WEV Oval Wits Education Campus in Johannesburg.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says Paul de Villiers is more than good enough to face the All Blacks in Cape Town on Saturday. Still, the push to get Siya Kolisi fit is driven by the unique qualities and leadership the double World Cup-winning captain brings to the team.
As things stand, Pieter-Steph du Toit will captain the Springboks in his 100th Test, with Kolisi and De Villiers both named at openside flank. If Kolisi’s hamstring does not hold up through the week’s training, De Villiers will start.
But Erasmus made it clear on Monday that the preferred scenario is for Kolisi to prove his fitness and reclaim the captaincy for the must-win second Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
“Siya has been slotted with Paul because we don’t want to train today without a named captain,” Erasmus said. “That’s why Pieter-Steph is staying captain, but if Siya gets through, we might make a change there.
