Overview
- Kolbe suffered a broken jaw during a heavy collision with New Zealand nine minutes into the Test at FNB Stadium on 5 September, a fact confirmed by Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus.
- He was withdrawn from the match and missed the final Test in Baltimore as the Springboks completed a 3-1 series win.
- One month into recovery Kolbe posted on Instagram that he is “halfway there” and joked about a doctor allowing a 30-minute supervised eating window before further fixation, showing measured progress.
- Medical management has included jaw fixation and a liquid or very soft diet with staged supervised chewing, and Kolbe has not been given a return-to-play date.
- Kolbe has used social posts to thank supporters and keep fans engaged while he follows a step-by-step rehab plan that prioritises bone healing and jaw stability before resuming full training.