Rachel Kolisi on Siya’s injury recovery: ‘A miracle!’

Kolisi injured his left knee in April and has been in intensive rehabilitation to be fit enough to take his place at the head of the team in France next month, with the 32-year having been named in the World Cup squad last week.

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Taking to Instagram, Rachel Kolisi put his recovery in perspective as she wrote: “106 days ago, Siya Kolisi had a massive knee surgery, today [Saturday] he’s leaving with the Boks ready to play in the World Cup. A miracle,” said Rachel.

“Praying for this team, management, coaches and all the refs. Continuing to believe [in] miracles in this journey. Thank you, Jesus.”

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Kolisi’s World Cup selection was rapturously greeted by a live audience at Multichoice City in Johannesburg last Tuesday, but he admitted afterwards that he feared he might not make a third tournament.

“I was scared for this one,” admitted Kolisi. “I had a proper surgeon who gave me confidence and my medical team at the Springboks and at the Sharks – when they helped me – were all confident.

“But I was really scared. If it wasn’t for my wife and my family and the people I had around me and the guys who have been through what I’m going through before I would really have struggled.”

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With his selection confirmed the World Cup-winning captain welcomed being part of the 33.

“It’s always special to be part of the group,” he said. “It’s special because there are so many players that can be chosen in the squad and there are a couple of guys that didn’t make it who are unlucky. We have the responsibility as the guys who are chosen that we play for them too!”

In his absence, the team has had three captains – Duane Vermeulen, Eben Etzebeth and Bongi Mbonambi. Kolisi celebrated the squad depth.

“I think that’s been one of our core strengths – the leadership in the group has been really good,” said Kolisi. “When I was made captain in 2018, Rassie and Jacques had known me since I was 18 and they probably knew that I would struggle in the beginning and that I would take time to grow into the role.

“So they built a structure around me so that I just had to worry about the way I played, the discipline and talking to the ref. That gave everybody responsibility in the group, and it has always been like that.

“To be a captain is important for the public to know, and you speak to the ref but everybody is actually a leader in the group.”

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KOLISI WILL LEAD THE SPRINGBOKS TO THE RUGBY WORLD CUP:

FORWARDS:

Props: Steven Kitshoff (Ulster – 74 caps, 10 points), Vincent Koch (Cell C Sharks – 45 caps, 0 points), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers – 61 caps, 5 points), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks – 19 caps, 0 points), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92 – 61 caps, 5 points).

Hookers: Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks – 60 caps, 60 points), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears – 61 caps, 75 points).

Locks: Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks – 112 caps, 25 points), Jean Kleyn (Munster – 2 caps, 0 points), Marvin Orie (Perpignan – 14 caps, 0 points), RG Snyman (Munster – 26 caps, 5 points).

Loose Forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz – 69 caps, 30 points), Siya Kolisi (captain – Racing 92 – 75 caps, 45 points), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs – 33 caps, 25 points), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls – 12 caps, 0 points), Duane Vermeulen (SA Rugby – 68 caps, 15 points), Jasper Wiese (Leicester – 22 caps, 5 points).

Utility Forwards: Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers – 7 caps, 0 points), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat – 65 caps, 15 points).

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BACKS:

Scrumhalves: Faf de Klerk (Canon Eagles – 48 caps, 44 points), Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks – 12 caps, 12 points), Cobus Reinach (Montpelllier – 25 caps, 45 points), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks – 4 caps, 0 points).

Flyhalves: Manie Libbok (DHL Stormers – 7 caps, 45 points), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers – 31 caps, 36 points).

Centres: Damian de Allende (Panasonic Wild Knights – 72 caps, 50 points), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins – 13 caps, 0 points), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles – 61 caps, 60 points).

Outside Backs: Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls – 9 caps, 50 points), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath – 25 caps, 81 points), Willie le Roux (Vodacom Bulls – 86 caps, 65 points), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks – 38 caps, 115 points), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls – 6 caps, 10 points).

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