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Kolisi fit to captain South Africa against New Zealand / Photo: © AFP
Kolisi fit to captain South Africa against New Zealand
Siya Kolisi has recovered from a hamstring injury and will captain South Africa against New Zealand on Saturday in the second Test in Cape Town, head coach Rassie Erasmus said.
The 35-year-old openside flanker has been injury prone this season and missed Nations Championship matches against England, Scotland and Wales in July.
His Test comeback against Argentina in Buenos Aires this month lasted only 25 minutes before being injured.
The hamstring injury ruled him out of the first of four Tests against New Zealand last Saturday, which the tourists won 33-16 in Johannesburg.
"Siya had a grade two hamstring tear, and it takes a little time to recover, and that is why we have been cautious," Erasmus told reporters.
"We told him he had to run full out on Monday and he did so on Tuesday as well without any discomfort, so he is good to go."
Paul de Villiers, who played against New Zealand last Saturday and had been bracketed with Kolisi for the flank position, drops out of the matchday 23.
After Cape Town, the teams return to Johannesburg for the third Test on September 5, then travel to American city Baltimore for the fourth on September 12.
South Africa (15-1)
Damian Willemse; Kurt-Lee Arendse, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Ethan Hooker; Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach; Jasper Wiese, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (capt); Ruan Nortje, Eben Etzebeth; Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche
Replacements: Deon Fourie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Thomas du Toit, Lood de Jager, Andre Esterhuizen, Cameron Hanekom, Morne van den Berg, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Coach: Rassie Erasmus
G. Santana--JDB
