Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has calmed concerns about his fitness as he recovers from a knee injury ahead of this year’s Rugby World Cup.
Kolisi is part of the 41-member squad in the Pretoria-based Springbok camp, as the team prepares for the Rugby Championship and World Cup.
The Sharks captain went under the knife last month after suffering a knee ligament injury, while in action for the Durban-based side in the final round of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
This is not the first time that the loose forward is struggling with injury ahead of a World Cup. In 2019 Kolisi was in a race against time to get fit at the same camp and managed to recover to lead the Springboks to their World Cup victory in Japan.
Speaking at a press briefing in Pretoria, Kolisi revealed he is confident that he will be ready for the World Cup, as he continues his recovery.
“It sucks, it’s not nice to be in this position. Each day is different, and I take it day by day,” Kolisi said.
“I know that I’ve been here before, it gives me motivation.
“It is hard but every day I’m getting better. Things are well, and if things go according to plan, I might play before the start of the World Cup”.
Kolisi will however miss the Rugby Championship, which begins on 8 July when the world champions play against Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina.
The reigning champions will then play Argentina in Buenos Aires, Wales in Cardiff, and New Zealand in London between August 5 and 25 to prepare for the global showpiece in France.
Kolisi added that he hopes to play “one or two” warm-up matches before South Africa begin their Rugby World Cup defence, echoing director of rugby Rassie Erasmus’ words, who said he was “aiming to get Siya involved in warm-up matches”.
“Hopefully, I will be able to play in one or two warm-up matches, I am progressing each week and am confident how things are developing. My rehabilitation is going well.”
The Springboks will begin their 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign against Scotland on 10 September.
SPRINGBOK 2023 FIXTURES
Castle Lager Rugby Championship:
- Saturday, 8 July – Springboks v Australia (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
- Saturday, 15 July – Springboks v New Zealand (Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland)
- Saturday, 29 July – Springboks v Argentina (Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg)
RWC WARM-UP FIXTURES
- Saturday, 5 August – Springboks v Argentina (Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires)
- Saturday, 19 August – Springboks v Wales (Principality Stadium, Cardiff)
- Friday, 25 August – Springboks v New Zealand (Twickenham, London)
RWC FIXTURES
- Sunday, 10 September – Springboks v Scotland (Stade Marseille, Marseille)
- Sunday, 17 September – Springboks v Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux)
- Saturday, 23 September – Springboks v Ireland (Stade de France, Paris)
- Sunday, 1 October – Springboks v Tonga (Stade Marseille, Marseille)
- Weekend of 14/15 October – Quarterfinals
- Weekend of 21/22 October – Semifinals
- Saturday, 28 October – Final
