A group of 13 Springboks – including some of the first-choice players for the side – left on Tuesday night for New Zealand to begin their preparations and be fresh ahead of next weekend’s test against the All Blacks in Auckland.
And Springbok captain Siya Kolisi joined them on the flight to continue his rehab and play a leading role with the side despite not being fit enough to take the field.
Kolisi is still on his timeline to be ready with the Springbok side, but it was felt his leadership skills will be crucial in a week where the Boks will be tested, while he can still get good care as he continues his rehab from a knee injury.
SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus confirmed Kolisi would be on the flight and then confirmed even more good news for Bok fans – that giant lock Eben Etzebeth would be ready to face the All Blacks next weekend.
“Siya is also going with to New Zealand – while he isn’t playing, with the three management members going across – a conditioning coach, a physio and a manager, we can give him good one-on-one treatment with Siya, knowing when his target is and his captaincy while working with the guys on that side is important,” Erasmus said.
“Eben will definitely be in the mix for that game, he will be ready then.”
Etzebeth’s return will be a massive boost for the side, especially as he is a key player in the pack but the 13 names released give a good idea of who will run out next weekend against the All Blacks.
While Steven Kitshoff will fly later because of Ox Nche’s injury, his name is among the list with Malcolm Marx joining Etzebeth and Lood de Jager in the tight five on the flight. Utility players Franco Mostert and Jean-Luc du Preez are also there as is Kwagga Smith.
Jasper Wiese will be on a later flight following the birth of his child while the backline is who you’d expect to be on the flight – from Faf de Klerk, midfielders Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel as well as Cheslin Kolbe and Makazole Mapimpi.
The rest of the players will fly after the Australia game with a number of them likely to make up the rest of the match day 23.
“We decided to split the squad because we know it is quite difficult if you go and play a match in New Zealand – and you have to leave South Africa on the Sunday and you only get there on Tuesday. You only have one training session,” coach Jacques Nienaber explained the reason for the split.
“We decided to do that to give ourselves the best opportunity for the test matches. We believe the team we selected is good enough to play against Australia. And then we will have a couple of guys there to get over the jetlag when we get there on Monday. So they’re ready to go from Monday when we start preparing for New Zealand.
“It is showing respect both sides, so that we could give the team that is playing Australia the best preparation available and the other guys be fresh when they get there.” Supersport
SPRINGBOKS TRAVELLING TO NEW ZEALAND
- Steven Kitshoff
- Malcolm Marx
- Eben Etzebeth
- Lood de Jager
- Franco Mostert
- Jean-Luc du Preez
- Kwagga Smith
- Faf de Klerk
- Cheslin Kolbe
- Makazole Mapimpi
- Damian De Allende
- Jessie Kriel
- Siya Kolisi
- Jasper Wiese will join later in the week following the birth of his child.
