Rassie Erasmus Explains Why Siya Kolisi Was Subbed 2 Minutes Into Second Half vs All Blacks
- Springboks captain Siya Kolisi was substituted just two minutes after half-time during the second Test against New Zealand on 29 August 2026
- Kolisi had scored a try before the break to help South Africa build a 24-14 lead at DHL Stadium in Cape Town
- Rassie Erasmus cited limited game time as the key factor behind the early substitution, revealing Kolisi had played only 50 minutes over eight weeks
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Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has addressed the confusion surrounding his decision to substitute captain Siya Kolisi just two minutes into the second half of the second Test against New Zealand at DHL Stadium on 29 August 2026.
Source: Getty Images
Kolisi had played a decisive role in the first half, crossing for a try that helped South Africa establish a 24-14 advantage at the interval. His early removal from the field, however, raised immediate questions among supporters.
Kolisi's Match Time the Deciding Factor
Erasmus attributed the call entirely to the captain's limited match fitness ahead of the game.
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"I know a lot of people said why did you take Siya off," the coach said post-match.
"Siya's total minutes is now 50 minutes in eight weeks, so he was going to get tired. That's why I took him off."
The same logic applied to other substitutions. Erasmus noted that Deon Fourie, aged 39, had accumulated 65 minutes against the All Blacks over six weeks and was also showing signs of fatigue. The coach pointed to a missed tackle from Fourie as evidence that the decision to withdraw him was correct.
Source: Getty Images
Springboks' Fast Start Created Room to Manage the Bench
Erasmus explained that South Africa's strong opening to the match gave his side the flexibility to rotate players strategically rather than reactively. Malcolm Marx and Nche, both originally named to start but moved to the bench, were introduced together as part of planned front-row changes.
Their arrival coincided with a powerful phase of forward play that set up Kolisi's try before the break. The early lead allowed Erasmus to rotate his squad on his own terms throughout the contest. The coach acknowledged the match remained tight despite the lead.
"If they kept the ball another two phases, it might have been a draw. So some of our plans worked and some didn't."
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Source: Briefly News
