Springbok assistant coach Matt Proudfoot says they knew captain Siya Kolisi would not play the full 80 minutes in the loss against the All Blacks on Saturday.
Kolisi started in the Boks’ Pool B opener against New Zealand in Yokohama but played just 50 minutes before he was replaced by Francois Louw.
Addressing the issue on Sunday, Proudfoot confirmed that Kolisi is not yet physically ready to deal with the intensity of playing a full game.
‘We knew he wouldn’t finish the 80 [with the intensity of the game] against the All Blacks,’ Proudfoot explained.
However, Proudfoot quickly moved to quash fears that Kolisi is still nursing an injury niggle.
‘Siya’s return to a full 80-minute performance is well on par.’
With South Africa scheduled to take on neighbours Namibia in Tokyo on Saturday, Kolisi may well be in line to play his first full game since coming back from his knee injury.
Matt Proudfoot on Siya Kolisi’s fitness and why the Bok captain only played 50 minutes against the All Blacks.#RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/saaPtxnNhR
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) September 23, 2019
Photo: Steve Haag Sports via Hollywoodbets
