British & Irish Lions: 3 Springboks finding form at the right time

These three Springboks are finding form at the right time with the British & Irish Lions series imminent.

Several of these players have only recently returned from long injury layoffs.

Jacques Nienaber will welcome the prospect of his key Springboks finding form ahead of the 2021 British & Irish Lions series.

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1. Springbok captain Siya Kolisi

The Springbok skipper had what was probably his best outing for the Sharks yet.

Albeit in a losing effort, Kolisi had a strong showing for the Durban franchise this past Saturday. Kolisir has started to find confidence which has lead to him gaining form at just the right time. Kolisi made several tackles and looked dangerous with ball in hand.

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He capped off this return to form after bouncing off a Stormers player and breaking the line to set up his team-mate Yaw Penxe to go over in the corner.

Kolisi is growing better with each game and the timing could not be better.

2. Steven Kitshoff

Kitshoff almost single-handedly turned the momentum of the game around for the Stormers in Saturday’s game against the Sharks.

He dominated Thomas du Toit in the scrum, winning frequent scrum penalties for his side. The scrum is a key part of the Springbok game plan so this will bring tremendous joy to Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber.

You know you are in form when you dominate a man nicknamed “The Tank”!

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Such character will be needed in the upcoming British & Irish Lions series. Kitshoff was had several strong carries, physically imposing himself on each occasion.

He is one of the best props in the world and will certainly be ready to fill in the void of the legendary Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira.

3. Pieter-Steph du Toit

What a story. What a player.

Du Toit missed rugby for 398 days after a rare injury nearly cost him his leg – and his career. The injury required three operations and months of rehabilitation. Even after all of this it wasn’t clear if he would ever walk properly, let alone play. 

A total of 398 days would pass between sustaining acute compartment syndrome against the Blues in a Super Rugby match and his return against the Sharks in Cape Town on 1 May this year.

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He has just completed back-to-back 80 minute performances. The Springbok star played every minute against the Sharks in Durban this weekend and against the Lions last weekend.

Nienaber will be relieved to see one of his best players back in action after such a scare.

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He was a tyrant on defence and attack, looking every bit the 2019 SA Rugby Player of the Year.

The Springbok flank doesn’t seem to tire, finishing with the intensity he starts the game.