Kolisi named captain for Boks against England
Cape Town, May 28,2018 (Reuters/NAN) Siya Kolisi has been named as Captain of South Africa for the three-test home series against England next month, but the flanker will not lead the side against Wales on Saturday.
The Stormers back-rower will captain the Springboks for the first time in the absence of previous skippers, loose-forward Warren Whiteley and lock Eben Etzebeth, who have both been ruled out through injury.
The 26-year-old Kolisi will not be considered for Saturday’s international against Wales in Washington, however, with Stormers team mate Pieter-Steph du Toit wearing the armband for that fixture.
Coach Rassie Erasmus announced an extended squad of 43 players for the June tests on Saturday and suggested he would take a number of fringe players to face Wales in the U.S.
“It’s a huge honour to captain the Springboks and Siya and Pieter-Steph are two honest, hardworking men who enjoy the respect of their fellow players,” Erasmus said in a media release from South African Rugby on Monday.
“I believe both of them will do a good job as captains.
“My philosophy is that each player must take responsibility for his position and must therefore work extremely hard with that one goal in mind — to make the Springboks successful again.”
The Springboks host England at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on June 9, before matches in Bloemfontein and Cape Town on the following Saturdays. (Reuters/NAN)
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Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Silas Nwoha