Kolbe fit and ready to go
FIT FOR ACTION: BOKS’ FLYING WINGER CLEARED TO TAKE ON THE JAPANESE
Battle of the wings is likely to take centre stage in Tokyo.
The most prized weapon in the Springbok arsenal, right-wing Cheslin Kolbe, is fit and ready to face red-hot hosts Japan in Sunday’s World Cup quarterfinal in Tokyo.
Kolbe had been in doubt after rolling his ankle in the Boks’ 49-3 victory in their third pool game against Italy, but coach Rassie Erasmus is expected to include him in the starting line-up today.
“The ankle has healed up really well and it’s good to be back on the field with the boys and getting some grass under the boots,” the 25-year-old Bok speedster said yesterday.
“I’m thankful and blessed for being injured for only a short period of time, so I’m confident and ready.”
Much of the talk in the buildup to this weekend’s fixture had centred around the battle between Kolbe and Japan’s wings, and he was looking forward to the prospect.
“He (Kenki Fukuoka) is a very good player – he has a lot of speed and he is powerful and explosive,” said Kolbe, who has plundered seven tries in his 12 previous Tests.
“I played against him at the Rio Olympics (in the sevens tournament) and he is a really good allround player, but what happens on Sunday is going to be about the team that want it most... and are willing to leave everything out on the field.
“I also played against (Kotaro) Matsushima back in 2012 in the Under-21 Currie Cup in South Africa (for WP against the Sharks), so I know what type of player he is.
“I know he loves to run with the ball and just have a lot of freedom.”
Kolbe was confident, however, that the entire Bok team would be up for the challenge against a strong Japanese side.
“Japan are definitely playing an exciting brand of rugby and they are giving the ball a lot of air and they want to stretch your defensive structures,” he said.
Meanwhile, scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies was also declared fit after his hamstring injury scare in the Boks’ last pool game against Canada.
“It’s going to be packed (in the stadium) but what’s important for us is just to stay in the moment and not let any of that get to us,” Jantjies said.
“The difficult thing is going to be to communicate on the field but I am sure we will fix that.”