Adriaan Strauss will lead the Springboks for the rest of the 2016 season, reports JON CARDINELLI in Port Elizabeth.

The Boks beat Ireland 19-13 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday to clinch the three-game series. Afterwards, coach Allister Coetzee declared himself satisfied with the contributions of his captain, as well as those of the senior players.

Coetzee also revealed the identity of the national captain for the Rugby Championship and end-of-year tour. Strauss, who was initially appointed for the duration of the Ireland series this June, will be retained.

‘Adriaan has been appointed as captain for the rest of the year,’ Coetzee said.

The Bok coach also came out in defence of his senior players. Coetzee feels that the likes of flank Francois Louw and prop Frans Malherbe have been unfairly criticised over the course of the three-Test series against Ireland.

‘The senior players really stood up tonight, as did the youngsters. Somebody like Faf de Klerk, in only his third Test, had an outstanding game,’ he said. ‘It augurs well, and I’m really looking forward to the Rugby Championship.’

Photo: Anne Laing/HSM Images