100 days countdown: Springboks, Kolisi tick next box in World Cup prep

The Springboks have concluded their three-day training camp in Durban where skipper Siya Kolisi completed the next phase of his ongoing rehabilitation from knee surgery. 

Kolisi is in a race against time to be fit for the Springboks' World Cup title defence with the 2023 edition in France getting under way on 8 September in exactly 100 days' time. 

The fact that SA Rugby included comment from Kolisi looking ahead to the tournament in a press release on Wednesday, however, is surely a good sign that his recovery is on track. 

“It’s unbelievable to think that it was almost four years ago since we lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in Japan, and the players have been working hard to give us the best possible chance to defend our title,” said Kolisi. 

“The memories of lifting the trophy and the emotional scenes of the fans waiting at the airport when we arrived home and lining the streets countrywide on our trophy tour were unforgettable moments. And while we know this World Cup is going to be extremely challenging, we would love to experience that again and give the people of our country something to smile about. 

“We have 100 days to get everything in place for the competition, and we’ll give everything to ensure that we are ready both physically and mentally.”

Head coach Jacques Nienaber, meanwhile, was pleased with the building blocks the team had put in place in their two KwaZulu-Natal camps and said they looked forward to their following training camp next month. 

The Springbok squad will now assemble in Pretoria on Sunday, 11 June, to prepare for their Rugby Championship campaign, which features three matches this season against Australia at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, 8 July, New Zealand at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland