Jean-Luc du Preez’s Springbok season has been cursed by cruel luck, and his latest setback has forced Siya Kolisi to make a typically selfless call ahead of Saturday’s clash with the All Blacks at Eden Park.
The 30-year-old, 14-Test loose forward was set to start against New Zealand, only to suffer a knee injury in training on Tuesday. It comes just weeks after Du Preez was ruled out of the second Test against Australia in Cape Town on the morning of the game due to illness. That would’ve been his first Test start in seven years.
“I think he will be sidelined for a substantial period,” admitted coach Rassie Erasmus.
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With Du Preez ruled out, Kolisi returns to the lineup at No 8, but not as captain. The two-time World Cup-winning skipper suggested Jesse Kriel should keep the armband after being appointed earlier in the week.
“We named the captain [Kriel] on Monday and J-L [Du Preez] would have played,” said Erasmus.
“We only made the change with Siya [Kolisi] on Wednesday. Because we trained with Jesse as captain and that impacts how we communicate on the field, Jesse took the lead, with Eben [Etzebeth] and Ox [Nche] up front.
“Because Siya came in at a late stage, after J-L was injured, it makes more sense to retain Jesse as captain. The suggestion came from Siya, and the team accepts it.”
It means Kriel will lead the Boks at Eden Park for a third time, while Kolisi focuses on his role in the loose trio. For Du Preez, though, the wait to add to his 14 Tests, continues.
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Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
