Bobby Skinstad: Rassie Erasmus has a ‘fantastic shoo-in’ replacement Springboks captain for Siya Kolisi
The ex-Springboks skipper has weighed in on the captaincy debate.
Bobby Skinstad has weighed into the Springboks captaincy debate ahead of the 2024 season, picking out one star as a “fantastic” option.
Despite captaining South Africa to back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles and a British and Irish Lions Series victory in between, Siya Kolisi could relinquish the Bok captaincy in 2024.
Head coach Rassie Erasmus has expressed his preference to have his captain locally based and hinted that a change could occur with Kolisi joining French Top 14 club Racing 92 after the 2023 World Cup.
Kolisi won’t captain the Springboks in their first Test match of the year as it is outside of World Rugby’s international window, meaning that Racing are not required to release him for the fixture. However, he will be available for the two Tests against Ireland and the one-off clash with Portugal in July.
“Siya is playing some of his best rugby, but I prefer to have my captain locally based as that allows for more interaction,” Erasmus said back in March.
“This is a unique situation, and I think he (Kolisi) will play some Test matches; he certainly wants to, but we are not sure about the captaincy.”
If not Siya Kolisi, who will captain the Springboks under Rassie Erasmus?
Skinstad’s Springbok captain pick
Erasmus’ comments have fueled the conversation as to who will take over from Kolisi if he is stood down from the role, and ex-captain Skinstad has offered his front-runner.
“If I was looking for the least disruptive path and Siya Kolisi is not available and not playing etcetera, then for Eben Etzebeth is certainly a good option,” the 2007 World Cup-winner told a URC round table.
“In the modern era, the role of captain is evolving so quickly, there’s always different factors but I think Rassie has got a fantastic shoo-in captain in Etzebeth.
“He’s been involved in the senior leadership, he’s a fantastic leader anyway. And he’s aligned with Rassie, the coaches and with what the Springboks want to achieve.
“He’s been involved in some very, very big games against Ireland and New Zealand recently and knows the level of performance that you need to perform at and the delivery that you need to win international test matches.”
Skinstad’s remarks come after Etzebeth skippered the Sharks in their Challenge Cup final victory over Gloucester.
Eben Etzebeth’s reaction
With the Sharks unable to make the URC play-offs, there is a good chance that the Bok lock will skipper the side against Wales at Twickenham Stadium in June, with the recent Chasing the Sun Series highlighting how highly Erasmus rates hooker Bongi Mbonambi who will also be available for the fixture.
Etzbeth recently brushed off questions about the role as the team’s primary focus is on winning Test matches.
“I don’t want to speculate too much on the Boks captaincy, we all know if Siya is match-fit he will always be in the team, and he might lead us [or] someone else might lead us,” Etzebeth told the SABC.
“We just want to win Test matches, we’re a core leadership group and we all work together, and the captain on the day will run out in front. But we will always work together, and whoever the responsibility lies on, we’ve got the backing of a couple of senior players.”
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