South Africa holds its breath. Less than five months before the start of the Rugby World Cup in France, the Springboks may have lost their captain, Siya Kolisi, to a knee injury. The 31-year-old came out injured in the first half in his last game for the Sharks.
Kolisi, who must also sign for Racing 92 after the World Cup, is suffering from a partial rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament according to the national press.
“If he is recommended for surgery, and he accepts, he probably won’t play again this year,” a source at SARU told AFP. “The other option is to let the injury heal but that could take around four months, which means he wouldn’t be playing again until September.” In this second scenario, the Boks captain would likely miss all World Cup warm-up games.
The Springboks potential opponents of the Blues
South Africa will begin the defense of their world title against Scotland in Marseille on September 10, and will then meet Ireland, Romania and Tonga in Group B. They will then be a potential opponent of the XV of France.