Series win dispels Bok rugby gloom

WHILE it may not have been the perfect ending with a defeat at Newlands, the Springboks’ 2-1 series win over England could not have come at a better time. The doom and gloom of recent times has thankfully made way for a more optimistic mood regarding the state of Bok rugby.

One of the reasons for this revival has been the giant-sized contribution made by Zwide’s Siya Kolisi, who led his side like a colossus against England.

Appointed in the absence of the injured Warren Whiteley and Eben Etzebeth, Kolisi has given his coach, Rassie Erasmus, a welcome selection headache regarding his long-term captain. The Bok brains trust will have a few weeks to weigh up their captaincy options ahead of their opening Rugby Challenge clash against Argentina in Durban on August 18.

The way Kolisi tackled his new task drew universal approval and he may even have moved ahead of his rivals in the captaincy stakes.

In the opening games against the English in Johannesburg and Bloemfontein, the Boks had to come back from early deficits.

It was the character shown on both occasions by Kolisi’s warriors that bodes well for the future.

At Ellis Park they were staring at defeat, but they never lost their will to win against a street-wise English side.

Now Erasmus will have to work out how he will use the captaincy resources at his disposal in the build-up to the World Cup.

He may decide to rotate the leadership role and rest key players, while the threat of injury to leading players is always present.

While Erasmus is happy with the way his side is heading, he is not getting ahead of himself.

He knows there is a lot of ground to make up on world champions New Zealand if the Boks are to bag a third World Cup trophy in Japan next year.

For the time being, all Bok fans are basking in the glow of the England series win.