Springboks winger Cheslin Kolbe will miss the Rugby World Cup semi-final against Wales because of an ankle injury, coach Rassie Erasmus said on Thursday.
Kolbe, one of the standout players of the tournament, missed South Africa’s pool match against Canada with an ankle problem and had to leave the field in the latter stages in the quarter-final victory over Japan.
He missed training on Tuesday and will be replaced on Sunday by S’Busiso Nkosi in the only change to the team that beat the hosts in Tokyo last week.
“It’s disappointing not to have Cheslin available as he has been brilliant for us since we first called him up last year,” said Erasmus. “But we really rate Sbu and he will slot straight in. I am as excited to see what he can do as I would be if ‘Chessie’ were playing. Sbu has been very close to selection as it is.
“We’ve been fortunate to have been able to be pretty consistent in selection and we’ve built some nice momentum, but the challenge just got a lot tougher on Sunday.
