Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will sit out the team’s first match of the Rugby Championship against the Wallabies in Johannesburg on 20 July.

Kolisi has been out since May after suffering a knee injury during the Stormers’ Vodacom Super Rugby campaign.

While Kolisi was included in the Springbok training group that has assembled for a camp in Pretoria in preparation for the Rugby Championship, Bok coach Rassie Erasmus told the media on Wednesday that the loose forward will not recover in time for the Wallabies match.

Erasmus added that he planned to ease Kolisi back through allowing him to play for Western Province in their Currie Cup campaign, which kicks off on 13 July.

It has not yet been confirmed who will take over the leadership duties in Kolisi’s absence against Australia, but Eben Etzebeth is believed to be a strong candidate.

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