VIDEO: Rassie reveals question marks over Bok captaincy
NEWS: Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus says he prefers his Springbok captain to be based locally as question marks were raised over Siya Kolisi’s future with the Springboks.
Erasmus was addressing media in Cape Town on Tuesday where he officially unveiled Tony Brown and Jerry Flannery as his new assistant coaches.
The Springboks are starting a new cycle leading up to the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
Kolisi’s pedigree as captain is there for all to see after leading the Boks to two World Cup titles (2019 and 2023).
However, he is now playing his rugby in France with Racing 92 and Erasmus admitted that a big decision still needs to be made on the Bok leadership group ahead of this year’s Tests.
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“There’s a lot of players that signed for overseas clubs with clauses in their contracts saying that they will stop playing international rugby and just play for their club,” said Erasmus.
“Obviously, the club will give them more money because he will be available whenever they need him.
“Siya did not sign a clause like that. He wants to play for South Africa.
“I think he is playing some of his best rugby and he looks really relaxed.
“We have a lot of guys all over the world like that.
“I would always love to have a captain locally based because he can hop on a flight and we can have a weekend together and plan and work on stuff.
“This is a unique situation. He will be considered and I think he will play some Test matches. He definitely wants to and he is playing well enough.
Erasmus added: “If we get the feeling that it is doable, and they [players] know him so well, maybe there is a place for that, but I will first have to suss it out and see if it works.”
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The new #Springboks‘ defence coach understands what the team means to the rest of South Africa.
Read the full SARU press release here 🔗 https://t.co/qu4jm0Q5m8#Rugby365 #SARU #Rugby pic.twitter.com/mQjszJJdhu
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) March 12, 2024
On more in the tank?
There will be a few players in the Bok squad looking to win a third World Cup title in 2027. However, there will also be question marks on age and performance factors going forward.
“In 2018 we did a roadmap for players and we asked where they will be in 2019, 2023 and 2027, so we know exactly which players we think will last another year and we have given them specific tasks to reach milestones because they are still good enough,” said Erasmus.
“We are playing against Ireland who are No.2 in the world and who we haven’t beaten since 2016, so we first got to rectify that and we will probably still use some of these old guys who know them well and played against them.
“We got a gradual system where we ask ourselves if this papa [old man] is going to say goodbye now.
“It is a challenge, but a challenge more so to tell the player he must stop now.
“I think that is really a tough one because some guys in their 30s see themselves winning another World Cup.
“Johnny Sexton was 38 at the World Cup, but I don’t foresee our age going much over the average of 29 or 30.”
