OPINION: Kolisi injured, but is there a Bok captaincy succession plan? | The Citizen

South African rugby fans are holding their breath about the fitness of Springbok World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi. The Sharks man left the field early during the URC match against Munster in Durban on Saturday after falling awkwardly and while the medical team strapped him up and he tried to continue, Kolisi left the field shortly after the injury incident. I for one thought, ‘oh no, I hope this isn’t knee ligament damage’ because that’s a long time out of the game. Siya Kolisi is attended to by the medics during Saturday’s match at Kings Park. Picture: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo…

South African rugby fans are holding their breath about the fitness of Springbok World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi.

The Sharks man left the field early during the URC match against Munster in Durban on Saturday after falling awkwardly and while the medical team strapped him up and he tried to continue, Kolisi left the field shortly after the injury incident.

I for one thought, ‘oh no, I hope this isn’t knee ligament damage’ because that’s a long time out of the game.

We still don’t know what the diagnosis is, with the Sharks saying assessments and scans will be done before any news will be communicated.

But with the Rugby World Cup kicking off in 138 days on September 8, any serious injury now for Kolisi could see him miss out on leading the Boks in France.

Here’s hoping for good news, especially with the Sharks still in action in the URC quarter-finals, while Kolisi will be desperate to lead the side in the Rugby Championship, too.

Bok leadership

But the other question that popped into my head when I saw Kolisi leave the Kings Park pitch was, “What if he is ruled out, who will take over?”

We have already heard that the Springboks and SA Rugby have a succession plan in place now that Jacques Nienaber has decided to move on after the World Cup, to Leinster in Ireland, but is there a plan in place were Kolisi to be ruled out of action for some time?

Yes, there are several leaders in the Bok team, men like Handre Pollard, Eben Etzebeth, Duane Vermeulen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Steven Kitshoff, Lukhanyo Am and even Willie le Roux, but how many of these men will still be starters at the World Cup?

And, will the Bok management name a new full-time captain for the Rugby Championship and World Cup, if it were to be announced that Kolisi would miss out, or would they play it by ear and take it one game at a time?

For now, rugby fans must hope and pray Kolisi will be okay — because with him there and leading the way, the Boks are a settled unit.