Kolisi on comeback trail at captain's run: 'He keeps surprising me,' says Stick

Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick did little to hide his admiration for Siya Kolisi's resilience as he issued a very positive update on the regular national skipper's fitness on Friday.

The decorated 32-year-old flanker, whose recovery from a serious knee injury sustained during the Sharks' URC campaign has been a talking point for months, gave his Bok teammates the galvanising sight of participating in Friday's captain's run at Ellis Park ahead of this weekend's Rugby Championship climax against Argentina.

While Stick attempted to keep the timeframe for Kolisi's return realistic - team management has previously stated they would have no problem letting him go into the showpiece tournament without any game-time behind him - he also struggled to contain his enthusiasm.

"The thing is, with Siya's rehab and the way he's getting back into the swing of things, I'm continually surprised," he said at the team's base in Hyde Park.

"The way he runs and the type of conditioning drills he's already doing is notable. He keeps on surprising me every day. It was good to see him running (on Friday)."

If mobility is indeed a sign of progress, then the prognosis on Handre Pollard, Kolisi's official deputy, shows signs of promise, too.

The influential pivot has been nursing a calf injury sustained on duty at English club Leicester, yet he was seen walking unencumbered at the team hotel earlier in the week and did some kicking drills, too.

He was at Ellis Park on Friday, along with prop Ox Nche, who has a pectoral muscle injury.  

"It was also pleasing to see Handre, who really hadn't much mobility before this week, doing some running, too," said Stick. 

"Ox was also on the field and doing some light drills. To have that trio back for the