Former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers says he was stunned by the DHL Stormers’ decision to rest captain Siya Kolisi against the Kings last Saturday.
Kolisi led the side in their first two matches, but didn't play in Port Elizabeth, with Eben Etzebeth taking over the captaincy.
'Kolisi, the Stormers’ first black captain, needs time to stamp his authority on the team in order for them to follow him blindly in whatever direction he takes on the field,' wrote De Villiers in his column for KweséSports.
'By giving another strong figure, Eben Etzebeth, the captaincy against the Kings, could divide the team.
'The team was divided when Bob Skinstad was given the captaincy ahead of Corné Krige. In those days some of the players followed the one and some the other, which caused factions.
'I know that the Springboks have to manage their load and that they need to be rested after a certain number of matches, but they have to be careful that chopping and changing the captaincy doesn’t have a negative effect on the team going forward.'
Photo: Thinus Maritz/Gallo Images
