The results are in, and readers have decided on the man to wear the famous No 6 jersey for the Springboks at the World Cup.
Siya Kolisi’s participation in this year’s World Cup is in jeopardy after scans on the Springbok skipper’s injured right knee revealed a torn ACL.
He is now in a race against time as he contemplates his options – corrective surgery would certainly rule him out of the tournament in France.
MORE: Siya’s World Cup in doubt
The Bok coaches will have to make a decision about who to promote to the captaincy, and then there’s the matter of filling the No 6 jersey, if Kolisi doesn’t make it to the World Cup.
A poll run by SARugbymag.co.za gave readers the opportunity to have their say on who should be the new opensider for the Springboks, should Kolisi be ruled out.
A hotly-contested three-player race saw DHL Stormers veteran Deon Fourie come out on top, with 36% of the vote. Fourie became the oldest Springbok debutant when he donned the green-and-gold for the first time at the age of 35 last year, but has made himself invaluable to the Stormers this season.
Fourie was closely followed by Kwagga Smith (27%). Smith has donned the No 6 jersey most often in Kolisi’s absence during the Rassie Erasmus era. The Japan-based flanker also captains his side, the Blue Revs and is coming off a solid League One campaign.
Marcell Coetzee will seemingly have to settle for a place in the larger squad, after gathering 19% of votes. The Vodacom Bulls stalwart has played at No 6 in the Erasmus-Nienaber era, but has only recently started in two Tests, with his last appearance coming in the loss to Wales in Bloemfontein.
Veteran No 8 Duane Vermeulen (6%), Vodacom Bulls openside Marco van Staden (4%), recently retired Jaco Kriel (3%) and Toulouse heavy-hitter Rynhardt Elstadt (1%) were other options that failed to gain traction with readers.
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