Bok captain Siya Kolisi was again pressed on his credentials as a No 8 ahead of Saturday’s Test against Georgia in Mbombela. Kolisi has done duty for the Sharks in that position, and did not appear a fish out of water. “I don’t mind playing anywhere. It is the first position he [coach Rassie Erasmus] saw me play when I was a junior. Then I moved to flank. I know I am capable but Kwagga [Smith] is there, and he is capable, and Cobus [Wiese] is also getting an opportunity. If you know the kind of 8s we have at the Springboks, I don’t think I’m there yet. I need to gain a few kilograms. If the opportunity is there, I will definitely play — but there are other guys who can do it.”
Skipper’s wish list
Kolisi was also put on the spot about his wish list in what is a big year for the Springboks. How would he rank — in order of importance — getting a rare win in Auckland, playing his 100th Test, or the Boks ending the year as the top-ranked team. “Joh! Of course we have to win in Auckland to be No 1. If we can win all our games with all the other players also getting opportunities along the way. Us getting better and delivering on the things the coaches want.” This led to assistant coach Mzwandile Stick reminding Kolisi of the original question. “The question is: No 1 in the world? 100th game?” Kolisi sheepishly conceded his 100th game would be third on the list, adding: “I’m trying not to think about it. It will be a huge honour. For me it doesn’t matter where it is. It could be on the end of year tour.”
Gender realignment results
The CAA, the body responsible for African athletics, had an interesting gender-fluid result from the continental under-18 and under-20 championships in Nigeria this week. In one list of results, they had South African teen Temoso Masikane finishing third in the women’s under-20 triple jump final with a distance of 12.20m. That was far behind the 15.95m personal best he set, finishing second in the men’s competition at the senior national championships earlier this year.
Enough of Ribeiro for this fan
Mamelodi Sundowns striker Lucas Ribeiro is a frontrunner on many fronts at the Betway Premiership end-of-season awards. The frontman, who banged goals for fun for The Brazilians, and assured of the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot, is also nominated in the Footballer and Player’s Player of the Season categories. The striker’s solo run against Borussia Dortmund was voted by supporters as the goal of the tournament of the expanded Fifa Club World Cup. The news prompted a Kaizer Chiefs follower to post on social media: “The reason we voted is because we want him to leave our Betway. As a Chiefs fan, [I] am not ready to face him again.”
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