No rest for Bok skipper
VIDEO: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus plans to ‘manage’ his players in the next six weeks, ahead of the Rugby Championship.
However, the Stormers don’t look keen to help out.
Kolisi, who was replaced midway through the second half of the third Test against England at the weekend, will lead a 25-man Stormers touring squad that will depart Cape Town on Tuesday – ahead of their Super Rugby Round 17 encounter with the Jaguares in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
Erasmus, in his post-match media briefing after the 10-25 loss to England at Newlands, pointed to the fact that Kolisi has played ‘almost every minute’ of Super Rugby for the Stormers in 2018.
As captain, he also featured heavily in the three-Test series against England and it was no surprise when he was replaced at Newlands at the weekend.
With the Stormers out of the running for a Super Rugby play-off spot, it was expected that the Stormers would rest the skipper.
However, he will again be at the forefront of the contest when the Cape Town-based franchise resumes their campaign at Estadio Jose Amalfitani in Buenos Aires this weekend.
Despite a number of players being unavailable due to injury, Stormers coach Robbie Fleck named a squad with a good blend of experience and young talent.
Unable to make the trip were the likes of Juarno Augustus, Jaco Coetzee, Dan du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Sarel Marais, Siyabonga Ntubeni, Sergeal Petersen, John Schickerling, Seabelo Senatla, Chris van Zyl, Jano Vermaak and Damian Willemse.
Fleck said that despite the injuries, his squad will be travelling to Argentina with a positive mindset to take on the challenge ahead.
“We know that this will be a tough match in difficult conditions, but we are embracing the challenge that we will face over there,” the Stormers coach said.
“After the break, we have a fresh mindset and are determined to give a good account of ourselves,” he said.
Stormers touring squad: Craig Barry, Nizaam Carr, Damian de Allende, Jan de Klerk, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Dewaldt Duvenage, Johannes Engelbrecht, Jacobus Janse van Rensburg, Steven Kitshoff, Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain), Dillyn Leyds, Wilco Louw, Frans Malherbe, Mbongeni Mbonambi, Salmaan Moerat, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Justin Phillips, Raymond Rhule, Carlu Sadie, Ramone Samuels, Josh Stander, Kobus van Dyk, EW Viljoen, Cobus Wiese.
