Kolisi admits he had doubts over World Cup availability: 'I was really scared'

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi admitted he was "really scared" that he would miss this year's Rugby World Cup in France.

Kolisi suffered a serious knee injury playing for the Sharks in April, but he made sufficient progress to crack a nod in the Bok World Cup squad named earlier this week.

"I was scared for this one," Kolisi said in a statement.

"I had a proper surgeon who gave me confidence and my medical team at the Springboks and at the Sharks - when they helped me - were all confident.

"But I was really scared. If it wasn't for my wife and my family and the people I had around me and the guys who have been through what I'm going through before I would really have struggled."

In Kolisi's absence this year, the Boks have had three captains in the four Tests they've played - Duane Vermeulen, Eben Etzebeth and Bongi Mbonambi.

Kolisi lauded the leadership depth in the squad.

"I think that's been one of our core strengths - the leadership in the group has been really good," said Kolisi.

"When I was made captain in 2018, Rassie and Jacques had known me since I was 18 and they probably knew that I would struggle in the beginning and that I would take time to grow into the role.

"So they built a structure around me so that I just had to worry about the way I played, the discipline and talking to the ref. That gave everybody responsibility in the group, and it has always been like that.

"To be a captain is important for the public to know, and you speak to the ref but everybody is actually a leader in the group."

Fullback: Willie le Roux

Utility back: Damian Willemse

Wings: Canan Moodie, Cheslin Kolbe, Makazole Mapimpi, Kurt-Lee Arendse

Centres: Andre Esterhuizen, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende

Flyhalves: Manie Libbok

Scrumhalves: Faf de