Springboks captain Siya Kolisi and an inset of head coach Rassie Erasmus.

Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has confirmed several major injury setbacks ahead of the second Test match against Australia in Cape Town.

Erasmus will name his team for the second Rugby Championship on Tuesday as South Africa look to bounce back from the 22-38 defeat to Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies.

Siya Kolisi setback

Siya Kolisi is among the injury setbacks, with the Springboks captain facing a race against time to feature in the highly anticipated Test against the All Blacks at Eden Park in round three of the competition.

The back-rower, who packed down at number eight at Ellis Park for the first time in a Springboks jersey, sustained a knee injury in the defeat to the Wallabies and is set to be out for four weeks, Erasmus confirmed: “Siya is out, I think for four weeks.”

It’s the second setback Kolisi has suffered this international season as he missed both of the Italy Tests with a ‘stiff neck’.

To make matters worse for the Boks, who surrendered their number one world ranking in the defeat, 2024 World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit will also miss the Cape Town Test match after sustaining a concussion.

The head coach stated that Du Toit will miss the round two fixture but should be back in the selection frame for the two Tests in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, the Springboks wing depth will be tested with Edwill van der Merwe and Kurt-Lee Arendse both sidelined for the next three weeks.

The duo both started the tournament opener against Australia, with Cheslin Kolbe not risked after sustaining an injury of his own during the training camp in the build-up to the Rugby Championship.

“Pieter-Steph is out for a concussion, Kurt-Lee with a knee, and Edwill injured his ankle,” Erasmus confirmed.

Kolbe is expected to be fit for the Cape Town Test and could well start on the wing with either Canan Moodie or Ethan Hooker, while Aphelele Fassi is another option that South Africa have to fill the winger roles.

Number eight curse?

Kolisi’s injury continues the theme of setbacks in the number eight jersey for South Africa this season.

Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom have both been ruled out for the entire international season, while Jasper Wiese is currently serving a ban following his red card in the second Test match against Italy and will only be available for selection for the second Test versus the All Blacks.

Juarno Augustus was also in line for a potential Test debut in July before injury struck.

Evan Roos was put on stand-by for the Rugby Championship and could be drafted into the squad, while the same is true for Makazole Mapimpi, who would provide cover on the wing.

Cobus Wiese started in the number eight jersey against Georgia in Nelspruit and may be asked to do the same against Australia this week, while Jean-Luc du Preez and Kwagga Smith could also fill Kolisi and Du Toit’s voids.

Bulls lock Ruan Nortje featured at blindside flanker for his club this season and may well slot into Du Toit’s void, offering a similar work-rate and lineout prowress as the double World Cup winner.