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IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Siya Kolisi's potential return sparks No 8 jersey debate for Springboks ahead of Georgia clash
After missing out on the first three matches of the season due to a couple of niggles, Springbok captain Siya Kolisi could be in line to play his first Bok Test this year on Saturday in Nelspruit. Image: BackpagePix The Springboks are weighing up the option of playing Siya Kolisi at eighth man should he be fit to face Georgia in the final mid-year Test on Saturday in Nelspruit. With a ban hanging over the head of Jasper Wiese, who was red-carded for a headbutt against Italy this past weekend, the world champions are a bit thin when it comes to the eighth man position. Stormers bruiser Evan Roos was the replacement on Saturday, and he is another strong candidate for the jersey, seeing that he hasn't had many minutes for the Boks this season. Roos made a telling impact when he took to the field and gained some valuable running meters with the ball in hand. He was also solid on defence. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Kolisi missed the last three games due to neck and Achilles niggles, but Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus alluded to playing him against Georgia to give him game time. Should the Bok captain be selected, it will be the only playing minutes he will have ahead of the Rugby Championship. Marco van Staden 'We have a bunch of versatile players in the squad, like Siya who has played primarily for us at six, but have played at No 8 for the Sharks,' Deon Davids, Springbok assistant coach, said on Monday. 'Evan Roos played this weekend, Marco van Staden played in that position. There are different players we can look at who we feel can play there. It will depend on the mix of the loose trio and pack. All the players are available for selection and Siya is one of many players who are part of the discussion.' The volume in the stadium 🔊📈 Siya Kolisi bringing the Web Ellis Cup onto the pitch in Gqeberha before kick-off 🏆🇿🇦#SSRugby — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 13, 2025 Davids added that they won't rest on their laurels against the physical Georgians. The Boks expect a big onslaught from their visitors, despite their loss to provincial side, the Cheetahs, this past weekend. The Springboks come off a resounding win in Gqeberha and will look to continue with that momentum, despite the prospect of fielding a changed lineup. 'We see every Test as an important game because we want to win it. We never underestimate our opponents and understand Georgia's DNA. They are a team that brings a lot of physicality and leaves everything out there. They were competitive in their last couple of games. The Jasper Wiese headbutt incident. Some say it was soft and should have only been a yellow. It's not about the result or even intent ... it's about the action. Headbutt is a headbutt is a headbutt basically. Red card all day long unfortunately for Jasper. — Front Row Rugby (@FrontRowRugbyXV) July 13, 2025 'They have their own goals and are pressing hard to be part of the Six Nations. Them coming here is another step in that direction. We expect a competitive game and want to continue setting our standards and improve looking at the Rugby Championship and the rest of the year.' The Bok assistant coach added that it is unfortunate that Wiese got himself on the wrong side of the law, but they are a physical team that tries to do things with intent. He added that the team will support Wiese and that they trust the disciplinary process. 'As a team, we work very hard to stay on the right side of the law. That is why we have Jaco Peyper here and we train with him to stay inside the laws. World Rugby have laid out the procedure they will follow, and we trust the decision and process.'
The South African
19-06-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Springboks: Three stars out for the year
The Springboks will meet the Barbarians in their first encounter on South African soil in Cape Town on Saturday 28 June. This will then be followed by back-to-back Tests against Italy in Pretoria and Gqeberha on 5 and 12 July, and Georgia in Nelspruit a week later on 19 July. However, bigger challenges undoubtedly lie in wait when the Rugby Championship gets under way, while the team will end the year with some massive battles on their traditional November tour. Even before the season kicks off, it has been confirmed that talented loose forward Elrigh Louw will not be available for the entire year as he recovers from a serious leg injury. Louw had the ability to cover No 8 and blindside flank, and his absence will be missed, but it could lead to new opportunities for the likes of Vincent Tshituka, Evan Roos, Juarno Augustus and perhaps also Cobus Wiese. Of course, first-choice options such as Jasper Wiese and Pieter-Steph du Toit will feature prominently during the Rugby Championship. In what is a quite a worrying update, it's also been revealed by Rassie Erasmus that tighthead powerhouse Frans Malherbe could also miss the 2025 season due to a troublesome back injury. Although there is the experience of Vincent Koch to rely on, the Springboks will need to expose others to Test action, and in that regard they are at least well covered by Thomas du Toit and Wilco Louw, while newcomers Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Neethling Fouche could be called upon. The versatility of Du Toit to scrum down at loosehead or tighthead will be of particular importance when considering that veteran Trevor Nyakane is only likely to be back towards the end of 2025, and by then it's unlikely that the Springboks would call on the 36-year-old. Forwards: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sale Sharks), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche, Vincent Tshituka (all Sharks), Neethling Fouche, Salmaan Moerat, Evan Roos (all Stormers), Jean Kleyn (Munster), Wilco Louw, Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Cobus Wiese, Ruan Nortje (all Bulls), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Lions), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets), Boan Venter (Edinburgh), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks). Backs: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Faf de Klerk, Jesse Kriel (both Canon Eagles), Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Makazole Mapimpi, Grant Williams, Ethan Hooker (all Sharks), Manie Libbok, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse (all Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath), Kurt-Lee Arendse, Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie (all Bulls), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg, Edwilll van der Merwe (both Lions). Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
13-06-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Springboks to cut extended training squad on Sunday
The Springboks will be whittling down their training squad from 55 players to 42 as they prepare for the start of the international season. Evan Roos was brought into the Springbok squad over the past weekend after the serious injury to Cameron Hanekom. Picture: Charle Lombard/Gallo Images The Springboks are set to cut their training squad from 55 players to 42 on Sunday, as they head into the second week of their pre-season preparations ahead of the coming international season. The Boks named an extended 54-man squad last week for the build-up to the opening match of the season against the Barbarians in Cape Town later this month, while Evan Roos was added to the group on Sunday after Cameron Hanekom's injury, picked up in the URC semifinal between the Bulls and Sharks, ruled him out of action for some time. A large number of players from the Bulls and Sharks squads have yet to join up with the Boks, due to them still being in action for their franchises, as well as some picking up recent injuries. Players who would have been part of the squad, but aren't due to long term injuries, include Frans Malherbe, Elrigh Louw, Deon Fourie and Trevor Nyakane. They are not expected to play for the Boks this year, and Hanekom has now joined the list. Short term injuries Players in the current squad who are on the short-term injury list, and thus could make the 42-man group named on Sunday include Gerhard Steenekamp, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Ben-Jason Dixon, Juarno Augustus, Lukhanyo Am, Jasper Wiese, Grant Williams, and Makazole Mapimpi. All the selected Bulls players have yet to join up, as well as Leinster's RG Snyman, while Handre Pollard and Thomas du Toit, who take each other on in the English Premiership final this weekend when Leicester Tigers battle it out with Bath, will also be late arrivals to the Boks. Damian Willemse will be unavailable for the opener against the Barbarians, as he still has to serve out his recent ban, after picking up a red card playing for the Stormers in the URC. Bok coach Rassie Erasmus admitted in a press conference on Thursday that despite them shrinking the group, it didn't mean the players that get cut will miss the rest of the season and can still be included at a later date. 'We will wait to see if there are any injuries from the URC final and then announce the group of players on Sunday that will get together next week,' explained Erasmus. 'That said, it doesn't mean that those players are the only ones who will be in the mix this year. There are players who are returning from injury within the next few weeks and months, and we would definitely like to see some of the players who have been playing well get a chance this season.' Augustus in limbo One of the players that the Boks' management are unsure about when he will be joining up is Augustus, who picked up a back injury in training with Northampton Saints a few weeks ago that saw him miss the remainder of the English season. But due to him switching clubs, to Irish side Ulster, he has to get medically cleared by Northampton first, before he can join up with the Boks, who will themselves assess when he can return to action. Due to this Erasmus will feel relieved to have Roos available, though questions have been raised in some quarters about there being an issue between the Stormers No 8 and the Bok coach, which played a part in the player's initial exclusion from the Bok squad. 'I read in the media that it must be because of a personal issue that I didn't pick Evan. That is not true, and you can ask Evan himself. It was nothing like that,' said Erasmus. 'In my opinion, he just wasn't playing as well as the other number eights, and that doesn't mean he was playing badly. Sometimes you have guys of Springbok standard, like Evan, but other guys are ahead of them, or we have guys that can fit into the position in question. 'For instance, we have Kwagga Smith who can play number eight. It can also be a case of the guys we pick fit in better with what we are trying to do.'
The Herald
09-06-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Springboks call up No 8 Evan Roos for expanded squad
South Africa have called up No 8 Evan Roos into their bloated squad for the fixture against the Barbarians later this month and the July internationals against Italy and Georgia. Roos was a surprise omission from the original squad named this week and brings the number of players to 55. His inclusion comes after back row Cameron Hanekom limped out of the Bulls' United Rugby Championship semifinal win over the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, though there has been no suggestion the latter has been released from the squad. The team will begin preparations in Johannesburg on Sunday, though without players from the Bulls and Leinster, who feature in the URC final this coming Saturday, and Bath and Leicester Tigers, who meet in the Premiership Rugby final in England on the same day. The world champions kick off their season against the Barbarians in Cape Town on June 28, before taking on Italy in back-to-back tests in Pretoria and Gqeberha on July 5 and 12, and Georgia in Mbombela on July 19. Reuters
TimesLIVE
09-06-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Springboks call up No 8 Evan Roos for expanded squad
South Africa have called up No 8 Evan Roos into their bloated squad for the fixture against the Barbarians later this month and the July internationals against Italy and Georgia. Roos was a surprise omission from the original squad named this week and brings the number of players to 55. His inclusion comes after back row Cameron Hanekom limped out of the Bulls' United Rugby Championship semifinal win over the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, though there has been no suggestion the latter has been released from the squad. The team will begin preparations in Johannesburg on Sunday, though without players from the Bulls and Leinster, who feature in the URC final this coming Saturday, and Bath and Leicester Tigers, who meet in the Premiership Rugby final in England on the same day. The world champions kick off their season against the Barbarians in Cape Town on June 28, before taking on Italy in back-to-back tests in Pretoria and Gqeberha on July 5 and 12, and Georgia in Mbombela on July 19.
