- Title: South Africa’s Kolbe out of Wales semi-final
- Date: 24th October 2019
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 24, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** SOUTH AFRICAN PLAYERS SINGING AS ARRIVING AT TRAINING SESSION HOOKER BONGI MBONAMBI ARRIVING AT TRAINING VARIOUS OF SOUTH AFRICA HEAD COACH RASSIE ERASMUS SPEAKING TO REPORTER VARIOUS OF WINGER CHESLIN KOLBE STRETCHING ERASMUS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA HEAD COACH, RASSIE ERASMUS, SAYING: "It is a big blow. I think everybody knows the quality of player he (Cheslin Kolbe) is and the contributions he has made, but I think if we looked purely at his performance in the previous game his ankle definitely had an influence on his performance and the way he had performed previously. We just feel that a fully fit Sbu (Nkosi) and the way Sbu has been performing, you know, if you compare the two, you know a 70% Cheslin isn't better than a 100% Sbu. It is a blow but then again we have full confidence in Sbu and especially with the way he's been playing. He certainly deserves his chance." PROP TENDAI MTAWARIRA RUNNING WITH BALL CAPTAIN SIYA KOLISI STRETCHING AND STANDING UP KOLISI LAUGHING VARIOUS OF WINGER MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI WARMING UP (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA HEAD COACH, RASSIE ERASMUS, SAYING: "I think Cheslin's obviously, I think top-end speed is probably, and his agility, is probably is one of the best players in world rugby. Top end speed and agility-wise he is up there with the Shane Williams' and (Damian) McKenzies and those guys of the world. So, that is definitely something we'll miss but then aerially I think, you know, Sbu is right up there with what Cheslin and what most of the best players in the world can do. And I think power-wise, I think Sbu brings something totally different to the party." VARIOUS OF TRAINER STANDING ON BACK OF CENTRE FRANCOIS STEYN PLAYERS CATCHING TENNIS BALL CENTRE DAMIAN DE ALLENDE LOOKING ON FLYHALF HANDRE POLLARD STRETCHING / ERASMUS AND PLAYERS PLAYING CATCH ERASMUS AND PLAYERS PLAYING CATCH (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA HEAD COACH, RASSIE ERASMUS, SAYING: "You know, I think we are under pressure the last couple of years to redeem ourselves. You know, we have been number five, six, seven in the world over the last three, four years since 2015, and we've got some proper hidings against almost all the teams. We lost to Italy, we have lost to Japan, we have been beaten by 57 points, by 39-3 against Ireland. So I think some people have lost a lot of faith in us at some stage. So we have got a different challenge all in all. We just trying to get, in the beginning, our respect back so people started believing in us again as a team. That was the pressure for us and now we are at that stage where, you know, we want to become number one in the world again." PLAYERS STRETCHING VARIOUS OF KOLBE STRETCHING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOUTH AFRICA HEAD COACH, RASSIE ERASMUS, SAYING: "And we feel the pressure and we are nervous, because we are trying to get to number one, stay there, and redeem ourselves and be one of the top countries in the world. So we are feeling the pressure, we are nervous but we are a little excited as well at the same time." VARIOUS OF TEAM TRAINING ERASMUS LOOKING ON/ TEAM TRAINING
- Embargoed: 7th November 2019 08:29
- Keywords: South Africa Wales Rassie Erasmus Rugby World Cup Japan 2019
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Rugby Union,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001B2GFS5B
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:South Africa suffered a big blow ahead of the Rugby World Cup semi-final against Wales on Thursday (October 24) when winger Cheslin Kolbe, one of the standout players of the tournament, was ruled out of the match by injury.
Kolbe missed South Africa's pool match against Canada with the ankle problem and had to leave the field in the latter stages of last week's quarter-final against Japan.
He missed training on Tuesday (October 22) and will be replaced for Sunday's (October 27) match in Yokohama by Sbu Nkosi in the only change to the team that beat the hosts last week.
"It is a big blow. I think everybody knows the quality of player he is and the contributions he has made," coach Rassie Erasmus said during a Thursday news conference.
Nkosi has scored eight tries in 10 tests since making his international debut last year, including two in his first test against England, and Erasmus said he would bring his own special qualities to the team.
Six Nations champions Wales have beaten South Africa in their last four meetings.
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