Kolisi returns to Boks team for Wales clash

By Ayanda Nyuswa

Springboks captain Siya Kolisi will make his long awaited return from injury to lead the Boks when they take on Wales in their second warm up match for the Rugby World Cup in Cardiff on Saturday. Kolisi suffered a serious knee injury on duty for the Hollywoodbets Sharks back in April, and was in a race against time to be fit for the Boks’ World title defence in France.

The Boks captain is one of three players who are returning from injury and are in line to make their first Bok appearances for the year, with Jaden Hendrikse starting at Scrum half and Ox Nche slotting in on the bench as a replacement.

The Springboks will face New Zealand and Twickenham after their clash with Wales, which will be their final warm up match before they lock horns with Scotland in their World Cup opener on 10  September 2023.

Full Springboks Squad vs Wales:

Backs
15 Willie le Roux
14 Canan Moodie
13 Jesse Kriel
12 Damian de Allende
11 Cheslin Kolbe
10 Manie Libbok
9 Jaden Hendrikse

Forwards
8 Jasper Wiese
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit
6 Siya Kolisi (captain)
5 RG Snyman
4 Jean Kleyn
3 Frans Malherbe
2 Malcolm Marx
1 Steven Kitshoff

Replacements

16 Bongi Mbonambi
17 Ox Nche
18 Vincent Koch
19 Franco Mostert
20 Marco van Staden
21 Duane Vermeulen
22 Grant Williams
23 Damian Willemse