[imagesource:supersport]

The Springboks will have to tackle the All Blacks without Siya Kolisi in Cape Town in round four of the Rugby Championship.

The Boks captain sustained a facial injury in the 31-27 victory against the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday, forced off the pitch in the final quarter of the match but opting to continue playing despite being impaired 10 minutes prior. He had undergone an HIA and ultimately passed.

However, it is not a head injury that is set to rule him out of the Cape Town rematch but rather a facial injury.

After the brutal collision, Kolisi’s face bore the unmistakable signs of battle, with a bit of face swelling. Though the medical team had yet to give their full assessment, Springboks chief Rassie Erasmus conceded with a grim expression that it had all the makings of a fracture, per PlanetRugby.

“It looks like a fracture to me,” Erasmus stated. “I’m not a medical doctor, I didn’t explain Eben’s injury well on Tuesday but I do think it is a fracture.

“The doctor will have to look at it, he doesn’t always look like this,” the Bok boss joked.

In the 48th minute at Ellis Park, the Springboks had an attacking lineout just outside the All Blacks’ 22, trailing 14-22. However, the Boks couldn’t secure possession, with Pieter-Steph du Toit and Malcolm Marx failing to connect as Marx’s throw sailed over his teammate’s outstretched arms.

Kolisi, who wasn’t part of the lineout, reacted quickly, securing the ball before being tackled around the waist by All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor. Sam Cane came in to assist Taylor with the tackle and clattered into South Africa’s captain executing a high tackle to Kolisi’s face. Referee Andrew Brace awarded the Springboks a penalty advantage, as Taylor fell on the wrong side of the ruck, before stopping play with another penalty soon after.

At that moment, New Zealand received a warning for the growing number of penalties they had conceded. While Kolisi was receiving treatment for the hit, which had caused him to bleed, he still approached Referee Brace to highlight the high tackle.

Sam Cane’s tackle on Siya Kolisi.#RSAvNZL #RugbyChampionship pic.twitter.com/9oP0bMYuBH

— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) September 1, 2024

A lot of people on social media reckon that high tackle (basically a shoulder to a face) needed to be carded.

Now, Kolisi might have to miss the Springboks’ next Test against the All Blacks in Cape Town. Even though Erasmus did state that the Springboks would be making changes to the starting XV for the second Test match anyway and when Kolisi was rested in the second clash against the Wallabies in Australia, it was Marco van Staden who claimed the starting number six jumper.

Siya will be sorely missed. Look at him manage a six-minute lap of the Ellis Park pitch taking selfies with fans even after sustaining a probable cheekbone fracture, proving yet again why he is one of South Africa’s most beloved, inspirational and selfless sports figures.

The best six minutes you’ll watch today

Despite a horrible injury, Siya Kolisi went on a lap around Emirates Airline Park to celebrate with the fans

The smiles on all the faces tell you how much love South Africa has for their rugby captain pic.twitter.com/n4yZYZ4pKv

— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) September 1, 2024

To a huge roar in his post-match interview that was carried across the stadium speakers, Kolisi said a huge “Dankie. Thank you” to everyone in the stadium, adding “When things are tough carry on supporting us — we can’t do it without you.”

Siya Kolisi. A national treasure. #RSAvNZL pic.twitter.com/7fVV9kjJ9a

— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) August 31, 2024

Kolisi will undergo medical tests to assess if he will be ready for the next Rugby Championship Test against New Zealand at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

[source:planetrugby&news24]