On Tuesday Kolisi was named in the squad after having played in none of the Boks four Tests so far this year.

Kolisi has been recovering from a knee injury he sustained in the URC and there were initially doubts that he would be ready, however, he is available to play against Wales next weekend.

Kolisi conceded that he was worried about this latest injury.

In 2019, Kolisi, was also battling with an injury and it was touch-and-go as to whether or not he would be fit and ready for the World Cup in Japan.

“It is two different injuries, but I was scared for this one,” Kolisi admitted.

“I had proper doctors and surgeons around me who gave me the confidence and that is the important thing. The people you have around you is important - he was confident, the medical team at the Springboks and the Sharks were all confident that I'll be okay.

“But, the harder a I worked in my rehab the more I started feeling good, but I was really scared that I wouldn’t be ready.”

The Springboks will depart for Cardiff on Saturday ahead of their last two warm-up Tests. Next week Saturday they will tackle Wales in at the Millennium Stadium, while the following when they will be up against the All Blacks.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport