Kolisi doubt: Who should lead the Springboks?

Should Siya Kolisi be unavailable to lead the Springboks in the first Test against the British & Irish Lions, which player should take over the captaincy on Saturday?

Kolisi is a doubt for Saturday’s first Test in Cape Town as he was among the players who were self-isolating in Johannesburg after returning a positive PCR test.

ALSO READ: Springboks not concerned over potential Kolisi absence

The Springbok captain and a few of his teammates will be seeing a specialist on Monday to determine his availability and readiness for the Test match. A final call will be made on Monday evening.

However, if he is ruled out, the Springboks will have a decision to make on the captaincy, as vice-captain Duane Vermeulen is also out continuing his recovery from ankle surgery.

Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick name-dropped Handre Pollard, Eben Etzebeth, Lukhanyo Am and Steven Kitshoff as potential options to lead the team in Kolisi’s absence.

Am most recently captained the South Africa A team against the British & Irish Lions, while Etzebeth led the Springboks through 2017 and in a Test match against Australia in 2019.

Kitshoff took over the captaincy of the Stormers when Kolisi completed his move to the Sharks and Pollard is also part of the Springboks’ leadership group.

SARugbymag.co.za asks you as a reader to make a decision over who you would pick to captain the Springboks against the Lions, should Kolisi be ruled out.

This poll has ended (since 2 years).

Which player should take over the Springbok captaincy for the first Test?

Handre Pollard
42.90%
Lukhanyo Am
41.95%
Eben Etzebeth
10.17%
Steven Kitshoff
4.98%

ALSO READ: Pollard to add power to Springboks Lions challenge

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