The Springboks captaincy is up in the air. Rassie Erasmus has admitted that Siya Kolisi — the man who lifted back-to-back Rugby World Cup trophies in 2019 and 2023 — may not lead South Africa this year, despite producing some of his finest club rugby for Racing 92 in France. This is a genuine changing of the guard, and Erasmus isn’t shying away from it.
Springboks Captaincy Decision Hinges on Kolisi’s Location
Erasmus, who has stepped back into the head coach role after serving as director of rugby, is already mapping the route to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. His preference is straightforward — he wants his captain on home soil. “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. “He certainly wants to play Test matches, but we are not sure about the captaincy.”
It’s a brutal reality for Kolisi, who turns 33 in June. Nevertheless, Erasmus insists this isn’t personal — it’s strategic. Eighteen of the 33-man 2023 World Cup squad were aged over 30, and the South African coaching staff are clearly serious about reshaping the roster before Australia.
Erasmus Embraces the ‘Lose Some, Win the Cup’ Philosophy
Furthermore, Erasmus isn’t pretending the transition will be seamless. He revealed that a detailed player roadmap, first drawn up in 2018, has been guiding decisions ever since. “We said, ‘Where will this guy be in 2019, 2023 and 2027?'” he explained. “We know exactly which players can only last another year.” Those veterans have been tasked with mentoring the next generation before they exit the international stage.
Crucially, Erasmus is also prepared to absorb defeats in the build-up. Between the 2019 and 2023 World Cups, South Africa posted a win rate of around 65% — a figure that drew real criticism — as Erasmus and then head coach Jacques Nienaber rotated heavily to develop depth. Yet Erasmus sees that approach as a template, not a failure. “I would rather win the World Cup than sit at an 85% win rate in between,” he said bluntly. “By giving young guys opportunities you will lose a few Test matches, but then we will have the answers when we get to the World Cup.”
That kind of cold, calculated thinking is precisely what took the Springboks to two straight world titles. Keep across BBC Sport’s rugby union coverage as Erasmus begins reshaping the side that will carry South Africa’s hopes to Australia.