Boks suffer huge injury blows

Springbok captain, Siya Kolisi, is one of four players ruled out of the second Rugby Championship Test against Australia in Cape Town this weekend.

To add to South Africa’s injury woes, 2024 World Rugby Player of the Year, Pieter-Steph du Toit, will also miss the match after sustaining a concussion in last weekend’s 22-38 defeat to the Wallabies in Johannesburg.

Wingers Edwill van der Merwe and Kurt-Lee Arendse, are also sidelined with knee and ankle injuries, respectively.

Bok coach, Rassie Erasmus, confirmed the injuries on Monday afternoon.

“Pieter-Steph is out for a concussion, Kurt-Lee with a knee, and Edwill injured his ankle,” Erasmus confirmed.

Kolisi, who left the field in the 45th minute of the first test at Ellis Park, is ruled out for four weeks.

Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi is unlikely to be fit, for the Rugby Championship showdown against the All Blacks at Eden Park on September 6.”

Rassie Erasmus revealed that Jesse Kriel will take over the captaincy on Saturday against the Wallabies.

He has now called up experienced Springbok wing, Makazole Mapimpi, to bolster the squad.

Squad update: Mapimpi will join the #Springboks in Cape Town later on Monday, while Kolisi and Arendse have been released 🗞#ForeverGreenForeverGold

— Springboks (@Springboks) August 18, 2025

Written by: Ntsako Mukhari