Kolisi in doubt for return clash against All Blacks after Ellis Park thriller

South Africa’s Aphelele Fassi breaks the tackel of Damain McKenzie during the Rugby Championship match between South Africa and New Zealand at Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg, South Africa, 31 August 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Kim Ludbrook)

By Craig Ray

1 Sep 2024

The Springboks might face the All Blacks in Cape Town without skipper Siya Kolisi.

As the Springboks and All Blacks moved to Cape Town for round two of their two-match series, it’s the home team counting the cost of their 31-27 win at Ellis Park.

Bok captain Siya Kolisi is almost certainly out after coach Rassie Erasmus said he had a fractured cheekbone in the post-match press conference.

kolisi doubt all blacks rassie Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus. (Photo: Anton Geyser / Gallo I mages)

“It looks like a fracture to me. I’m not a medical doctor. However, I think it is a fracture, but the doctor will definitely have to look into it,” Erasmus said.

Erasmus also confirmed that wing Kurt-Lee Arendse had concussion, which means that barring a miraculous set of outcomes when he goes through his head injury assessment protocols this week, he is out of the Cape Town showdown.

The All Blacks by contrast reported no injuries from the brutally physical Johannesburg contest. “That’s another positive to take out the game, isn’t it,” All Black coach Scott Robertson said.

Robertson was quietly smouldering about Bok hooker Bongi Mbonambi’s try, which appeared to have been lost forward before he applied downward pressure.

The 17th-minute score was decisive in the final analysis as the Boks won by four points.

kolisi doubt all blacks robertson All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson. (Photo: Gordon Arons / Gallo Images)

“I saw what you saw. I can’t say any more. It’s a dangerous area if you start talking about referees,” Robertson said.

Several issues

It was probably wise to leave it there as the All Blacks’ opening try, scored from a rolling maul by hooker Codie Taylor, looked suspiciously to have been set up with two players obstructing Bok defenders.

And in the lead-up to Mbonambi’s try, the All Blacks might have had a yellow card for repeated infringements at the breakdown to slow the Boks’ momentum. They conceded two penalties as it was before Mbonambi scored.

When you throw in the two points flyhalf Damian McKenzie added for a conversion even though he struck the ball a full three seconds after the shot clock had counted him out, you’d have to say things probably evened themselves out.

The match officials didn’t cover themselves in glory, is probably the best way to look at it. Fortunately, the 46 players on both sides did.

Finest traditions

It was a match in the finest traditions of the old rivalry. Frighteningly physical and brilliantly skilful — and they will do it all over again in a few days in a new venue for the contest — the DHL Stadium in Cape Town.

The Boks will have some changes given their injury situation while Robertson might consider some tweaks to his side, especially as their game management and intensity dropped slightly in the final quarter at Ellis Park.

kolisi doubt all blacks kwagga Springbok Kwagga Smith scores a try at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on 31 August 2024. (Photo: Sydney Seshibedi / Gallo Images)

The Boks bench was always going to be pivotal and flank Kwagga Smith underlined the value of experience and x-factor with scrumhalf Grant Williams close behind in terms of adding value.

Obviously, the All Blacks are going through a partial rebuild under a new coach and at this stage in their development they don’t quite have the depth that the Boks enjoy. They are not far off, however.

Robertson is unlikely to dwell too much on the perceived injustice of Mbonambi’s try, and will rather take lessons from the defeat.

The game was defined by “small margins” as he said and with a penalty count of 14 to five against them, the All Blacks will be better served working out how to improve that area of their game.

Blowing their chance

With the benefit of hindsight, the Boks were not at their best – at least for periods of the game – and the world champions are unlikely to be as generous in Cape Town.

Did the All Blacks blow their realistic chance of beating the Boks by surrendering that 27-17 lead in the final 11 minutes in Johannesburg? Put it this way, they are unlikely to be in such a comfortable position again.

For much of the professional era, it has been the All Blacks who usually overturn deficits in the final 10 minutes to win tight Tests. It was certainly a sign of the changing dynamic of the rivalry as the Boks extended their winning streak to three over New Zealand.

kolisi doubt all blacks fassi Springbok Aphelele Fassi breaks the tackle of Damian McKenzie at Ellis Park on 31 August 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Kim Ludbrook)

Improving that run to four wins with a victory in Cape Town will need a better 80-minute performance from the Boks, though.

They did many good things, but the lineout struggled late in the game, there were a few crucial handling errors and they were caught out wide from turnover ball.

And of course, Damian de Allende’s pass that opposite number Jordie Barrett intercepted is not a mistake they can afford to repeat.

On the plus side for the Boks though, lock Ruan Nortje enjoyed a strong game, to alleviate some concern about dwindling lock stocks.

With Eben Etzebeth having come through 55 minutes in Johannesburg, he is likely to start in the second row next week, allowing the freakish Pieter-Steph du Toit to return to blindside flank.

With Kolisi likely to be out of the Cape Town rematch, Erasmus might opt for Marco van Staden to start at openside instead of Smith, keeping the latter back to provide his brilliant impact from the bench.

Fullback Aphelele Fassi was magnificent as well. His defence was astounding at times and even though he was yellow-carded for making a tackle from an offside position close to his line – a decision that is still curious as there was no ruck and therefore no offside line – he shook off the setback well.

Williams deserves a start, but he might be a victim of his own effectiveness from the bench. He raises the tempo and speed of the Boks’ game in the last quarter, which was critical at Ellis Park.

Flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu came through his biggest test with an enhanced reputation. He looks so comfortable at the highest level and like all of the greats, or in his case – potential great – he revels in the pressure.

Crucially though, it was the Boks’ character and composure that shone through, which has been honed over years. It’s the one trait that can’t be coached. Only time and improving with each lesson can build that mentality.

It was something Kolisi again acknowledged and reiterated after the match.

“We’ve been in far worse positions. We’ve been able to be in front and come back. The great thing we said to the guys, especially when New Zealand scored, we said, ‘okay, it’s an intercept, let’s go to the next plan’,” Kolisi said.

“Nobody panics and if it’s not Eben (Etzebeth) who is talking, it is Pieter-Steph (du Toit), and even the guys without many caps also contributed.

“One of the things I enjoy about this team is that coach Rassie gives everybody licence because rugby knowledge isn’t based on caps. If you know something, you can say it and that’s what’s great about this team.” DM

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DM is much better if you are signed in...

South Africa

Several issues

Finest traditions

Blowing their chance