Bok skipper Siya Kolisi sends post-op message to fans amid World Cup worries
South Africa captain Siya Kolisi has sent a message to Springboks fans after undergoing surgery for a partial tear of his anterior cruciate ligament this week.
The flanker left the Kings Park field in the opening ten minutes of the United Rugby Championship clash with Munster last Saturday, leaving all Sharks and Springboks fans holding their breath over the severity of the injury. The news was not good, and now he has a race to be fit for South Africa’s World Cup defence, which begins in early September.
The positive for fans is that the operation went well, according to Kolisi himself. The 31-year-old posted a picture of himself and his family in his hospital bed on Instagram on Saturday, alongside the caption: “Op went well, the hard work starts now 💪🏾
Thanks for all the prayer, messages and support.”
Players across the game, past a present, commented on the post. Former Bok World Cup winner Bryan Habana wrote “You’ve got this comrade!!!!!” Danny Care wrote “Heal well brother,” Ugo Monye wrote “Speedy recovery brother,” Ardie Savea wrote “Recover well uso,” Damian Willemse wrote “Speedy recovery bruv,” and Jordan Hendrikse wrote “All the best my brother.” South Africa cricket international Tabraiz Shamsi also wrote “All the best with the recovery bro.”
Take a look at the post:
Kolisi is not the only casualty from the Sharks or Springboks at the moment, as talisman Eben Etzebeth is also out for the rest of the URC season with a shoulder injury. That means both players will miss the Sharks’ URC quarter-final against Leinster next week, although Etzebeth is expected to feature for the Boks in the Rugby Championship, which is due to begin in July. The prognosis is slightly more bleak for Kolisi, but the loose forward seems determined to make the global showcase in France later this year.
