All eyes will be on the Springboks as they gear up for their Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash against the Pumas, with several key players expected to make a big impact.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi billed their penultimate Castle Lager Rugby Championship match against the Pumas in Durban on Saturday as a “semi-final” and said they would treat the visitors with the “respect” they deserve going into the crucial encounter.
Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick and captain Siya Kolisi admitted on Friday that they had learned many lessons from last weekend’s 24-17 defeat against New Zealand in Auckland as they gear up for Saturday’s Test against their archrivals in Wellington, with Stick saying they have to be at their best for the full 80 minutes.
Captains Jesse Kriel and Siya Kolisi honoured All Black star Ardie Savea with a gift after he made his 100th Test appearance against the Springboks.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has called up experienced Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi to the squad ahead of their final Castle Lager Rugby Championship match against Australia in Cape Town on Saturday, as captain Siya Kolisi and Kurt-Lee Arendse were released due to injury.
Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick and captain Siya Kolisi said their Castle Lager Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies at Ellis Park on Saturday would be their toughest Test so far this season, but they were confident the team were at the level they needed to be going into the encounter.
Boan Venter, Marnus van der Merwe, and Neethling Fouche will all make their Springbok debuts against Georgia in Nelspruit on Saturday as double Rugby World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi returns from injury to take over the captaincy for first time this season in an exciting squad named by Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus for the final Castle Lager Incoming Series match at the Mbombela Stadium.
Jesse Kriel will lead the Springboks against the Barbarians in the Qatar Airways Cup at the DHL Stadium on Saturday after coach Rassie Erasmus was forced to make a late change to his team on Friday, following the withdrawal of Siya Kolisi due to a niggle.
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi shared some inspiring words with the future stars of South African rugby when he visited the Junior Springboks at their training session on the B-field of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.
Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick and captain Siya Kolisi said the Boks are determined to deliver a complete 80-minute performance and finish the season on a high note against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.