Kolisi out, Kriel in! – Springboks get a new captain for Baa-Baas clash

Kolisi

Johannesburg – Jesse Kriel will captain South Africa for the first time against the Barbarians after regular skipper Siya Kolisi withdrew because of injury on Friday.

The Yokohama centre made his debut for South Africa in 2015 and has played in 79 Tests, featuring in the Springboks’ 2019 and 2023 World Cup triumphs.Bulls flanker Marco van Staden has been drafted into the starting back row as a replacement for Kolisi for Saturday’s meeting in Cape Town and will partner up with Vincent Tshituka and Jean-Luc du Preez.Kolisi’s injury was described as a “niggle” in SA Rugby’s press statement and the two-time World Cup winning captain will hope to be back for the two-Test series against Italy, which starts in Pretoria on July 5.The Springboks have a further match against Georgia in July before the opening match of the Rugby Championship against Australia in Johannesburg on August 16.

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu

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