Siya Kolisi ready and raring to go for Racing 92 after recovering from hand injury

Kolisi has missed Racing's last three Top 14 fixtures due to a thumb injury but he is confident he has fully recovered and is raring to return to action.

"I feel good; my hand is good," the flanker told reporters ahead of the must-win match.

"I went to see the doctor to see the specialist, and he was happy with the healing of my hand.

"I just want to be on the field. I tried to play last week but the coaches, management and doctors said I must wait for this week."

Meanwhile, Kolisi was also asked about recent comments made by head coach Rassie Erasmus in which he admitted he was reconsidering the Springbok captaincy in light of Kolisi's move to France.

Erasmus would prefer the national captain to be based locally, though he was quick to stress that he still had plans for Kolisi and did not rule out finding a way to make the situation with the captaincy work.

For Kolisi's part, he said that he knew his leadership role would be in doubt when he signed for Racing 92, and ultimately knows he must abide by whatever the coach decides.

"That's normal. I knew that before making the decision to come here," he said.

"This is the situation, it is what it is, there's nothing I can do about that."

At 32, Kolisi is one of a number of players in the Springbok squad who are going to be touch and go for the next World Cup in 2027.

In the coming years, Erasmus has the unenviable task of deciding which players will still be around in four years' time and which will need to move on, and no doubt it's up to Kolisi and his fellow World Cup winners to continue making a strong case for their inclusion.

The 2023 Rugby World Cup final victory over New Zealand last year was the 53rd time that Kolisi had captained the Springboks, with only John Smith (83) leading the Boks on more occasions.

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