Jesse Kriel Steps Up to Lead Springboks After Kolisi Pulls Out of Barbarians Clash

A Cape Town crowd will witness a new Springbok captain this Saturday as Jesse Kriel takes the reins for the first time, stepping up after Siya Kolisi was ruled out with a late injury concern.

For the first time in his 79-Test career, Jesse Kriel will wear the captain’s armband for the Springboks. The call came unexpectedly, after coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed that regular skipper Siya Kolisi had withdrawn from the Barbarians fixture due to a niggle picked up late in the week.

While the extent of Kolisi’s issue hasn’t been disclosed, Erasmus made swift changes, drafting Marco van Staden into the starting XV to slot in alongside Jean-Luc du Preez and Vincent Tshituka in the loose forward trio.

Leadership Torch Passes in Cape Town

The match, kicking off at 17h10 in Cape Town, was already shaping up to be a thrilling opener to the Springboks’ international season. But with Kriel now leading the charge, the spotlight shifts to one of the most experienced players in green and gold who has quietly become a core leader in the squad.

“It’s Jesse’s time,” said Erasmus earlier in the week, even before Kolisi’s withdrawal, hinting that Kriel was in line for a leadership role. “We’re thinking long-term, and it’s important for the younger leaders in the group to start feeling the weight – and the privilege – of captaincy.”

Social media lit up as fans reacted to the last-minute change. Many praised Erasmus for showing confidence in Kriel, while others expressed concern over Kolisi’s fitness with the season just beginning. “Jesse Kriel has been one of our most consistent players. Long overdue for him to wear the armband,” one fan posted on X.

A New-look Bok Loose Trio

The reshuffle sees Marco van Staden join an athletic and powerful back row alongside Tshituka and du Preez. Van Staden, known for his relentless work at the breakdown, adds steel to the mix.

Elsewhere, the squad remains as named earlier in the week, with rising star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu starting at flyhalf, Aphelele Fassi at fullback, and the electric Kurt-Lee Arendse and Cheslin Kolbe on the wings. Damian de Allende partners with new captain Kriel in midfield.

A Shift in Springbok Succession Planning?

This fixture was already being viewed as a testing ground for the Springboks’ next generation of stars and leaders. Erasmus has hinted that Kolisi will not feature in all of this season’s matches, and Saturday’s turn of events may accelerate the team’s leadership evolution.

In recent seasons, the likes of Pieter-Steph du Toit, Bongi Mbonambi, Eben Etzebeth, and Salmaan Moerat have all captained the Boks in Kolisi’s absence. Now, Kriel joins the ranks – and perhaps signals a strategic shift.

There’s also talk of Erasmus preparing younger players to take on more responsibility. “It’s time to give the young bloods a feel for captaincy,” he said earlier this week, foreshadowing the kind of experimentation fans might see across the Test calendar.

Springboks vs Barbarians Starting Lineup:

Backline:
15 Aphelele Fassi
14 Cheslin Kolbe
13 Jesse Kriel (c)
12 Damian de Allende
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
9 Morne van den Berg

Forwards:
8 Jean-Luc du Preez
7 Vincent Tshituka
6 Marco van Staden
5 Lood de Jager
4 Jean Kleyn
3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye
2 Malcolm Marx
1 Ox Nche

Bench:
16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Andre Esterhuizen

The Springboks’ encounter with the Barbarians may be a once-off exhibition match, but Saturday’s clash has now taken on extra meaning. With Kolisi out and Kriel in charge, fans will get a glimpse of what the future might look like for the green and gold.

Cape Town is no stranger to historic Bok moments — and this weekend could be the start of a new era in Springbok leadership.

Source:Sabc Sport

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