I’m fighting to make Bok team

Sharks skipper Siya Kolisi believes the race to the Vodacom URC playoffs is the proving ground to catch the eye of Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus.

Kolisi was speaking to RTÉ Sport at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday, after the Durbanites’ comeback win against Ulster cemented their top-four spot with two rounds remaining of the league campaign.

As a result, John Plumtree’s men remain fourth on the log, seven points ahead of Cardiff and five behind the Vodacom Bulls, who beat defending champions Glasgow Warriors.

They are 14 points off log-leaders Leinster, who lost only their second match of the campaign at Scarlets in round 17.

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Kolisi highlighted the competitiveness among the players vying for Bok honours while addressing the importance for the Sharks of securing a home URC playoff.

“It’s big for our country, it’s big for us as a group, and a lot of us are fighting to make the national team,” he said.

“Last year we won the Challenge Cup but this is big for us. We know how tough it’s going to be with the way Leinster is going, and the Bulls are going well, and Glasgow.

“To get a home playoff is big so that’s what we’re fighting for.”

The two-time World Cup winner, along with Bulls’ Cameron Hanekom and Stormers’ Evan Roos, are the front-runners at No 8 for Erasmus should Jasper Wiese not recover from injury in time for the start of the Boks’ 2025 season.

Sharks captain Siya Kolisi on how his side reeled in Ulster and their 19-0 lead to prevail 22-19. #URC #ULSvSHA pic.twitter.com/XjmIF6oPWp

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 26, 2025

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