Springboks could replace Siya Kolisi as captain – Erasmus

South African captain Siya Kolisi, a two-time World Cup winner, may not lead the team this year despite playing excellent rugby for French club Racing 92, coach Rassie Erasmus said on Tuesday.

Erasmus left his role as director of rugby to return as head coach of the Springboks ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia and hinted that some of the “old guard” would be phased out over the coming seasons.

Eighteen of the 33 Springboks players competing at last year's World Cup were over 30, including Kolisi, who turns 33 in June.

Kolisi led the team to its second consecutive title in France after winning the 2019 tournament in Japan.

“Siya plays some of his best rugby, but I prefer my captain to be based locally as it allows for more interaction,” Erasmus said.

“It's a unique situation and I think it [Kolisi] is going to play a few test matches, he certainly wants to, but we're not sure about the captaincy.”

Erasmus said he set a timetable for each player when he was named coach six years ago.

“In 2018, we had a road map for the players and we said to them, 'Where will this guy be in 2019, 2023 and 2027?'

“We know exactly which players can only last another year and we have given them the task of helping the youngsters before they leave.

But it's a challenge to tell a player, 'OK, you have to stop now.' We have guys in their 30s who believe they can win another World Cup.”

One of the criticisms leveled at the Springboks between their World Cup successes in 2019 and 2023 was their relatively low win rate, around 65%, as Erasmus, and then head coach Jacques Nienaber, chopped and changed of players to develop the depth of the team.

But Erasmus believes it will be a vital part of building the next World Cup and says he is not afraid of losing a few tests if it helps build a stronger team.

“Building a team means giving young people an opportunity and ensuring that we always progress in depth,” he added. “By doing that you will lose a few test matches, but then we will have the answers when we get to the World Cup.

“I would rather win the World Cup than stay with an 85% win rate between the two.”