Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus admits he faces an “emotional decision” over where Siya Kolisi will bring up his 100th Test cap.
Kolisi, who reached 97 caps in South Africa’s win over Argentina in Durban, is set to become the next Bok centurion following Even Etzebeth in 2022 and Willie le Roux earlier this year. Damian de Allende and Porter- Steph du Toit are also closing in on the landmark, both currently sitting on 92 appearances.
If selected, Kolisi will move to 98 against Argentina in London before South Africa’s end-of-year tour which features Tests against Japan, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales.
Erasmus admitted the significance of Kolisi’s milestone but stressed that sentiment cannot be allowed to undermine results.
“There are so many emotional decisions one has to make,” Erasmus said. “We are tight and very good friends, and there’s a mutual belief in each other.
“We have [Makazole] Mapimpi, who is on 47 [Test caps], and we want to get him to 50 Tests, and Siya [Kolisi] has 97 caps. You can’t always plan where players will earn their 100th Test cap.
“If you start thinking too much about it, that’s when you start risking losing Tests sometimes. Whether he does it against France or wherever it may be, we will celebrate it there when it happens.”
Erasmus made it clear that Kolisi is not the only one the management are monitoring for personal milestones.
“As mentioned, we want to get Makazole Mapimpi to his milestone. And we don’t forget players such as Jaden and Jordan [Hendrikse], Elrich [Louw], Ben-Jason [Dixon], [Ntuthuko] Mchunu, Gerhard Steenekamp and Salmaan Moerat.
“Then there’s also guys like Kurt-Lee [Arendse], Edwill [Van der Merwe] and [Aphelele] Fassi. There are plenty of other players who have played for us [who could be back in the mix]. We try to work it out as best as possible.
“I don’t think we’re in a position after this game [Argentina] where we get France, Ireland and Japan to plan for Siya’s centurion match. So he will have to take it as it comes.”
