All Blacks great hails Siya Kolisi’s speedy recovery

All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea has expressed his delight at seeing Siya Kolisi back on the field following the Springbok skipper’s recovery from injury.

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Rivals on the pitch but friends away from the field, the two players will go head-to-head when the All Blacks and Springboks clash at Twickenham on Friday, 25 August.

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Kick-off is at 20:30 (SA time).

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Kolisi is playing just his second match since returning from a knee problem which ruled him out for almost four months.

The Springbok captain started against Wales last weekend and impressed as they emerged 52-16 winners at the Principality Stadium, in Cardiff.

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Instead of wrapping him in cotton wool ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, head coach Jacques Nienaber is giving him another outing.

“Siya is an inspirational leader, a good friend,” Savea told reporters.

“To see him come back after his injury at such a fast rate, it’s a miracle pretty much.

“It’s awesome that he’s there, and I know he plays a massive part in the Springbok culture and lifting their boys. It’s good for Siya, and it is good for rugby.”

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TEAMS

NEW ZEALAND

15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Luke Jacobson, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Samuel Whitelock, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ethan de Groot

Substitutes: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Tupou Vaa’i, 21 Dalton Papali’i, 22 Cam Roigard, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown

SOUTH AFRICA

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Marco van Staden, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Willie le Roux