Siya Kolisi believes the wave of young talent coming through South African rugby is helping drive standards higher than ever within the Springbok environment.
Several Junior Boks attended the Boks’ recent training camp, with lock Riley Norton and flyhalf Vusi Moyo both included in the 46-man squad for the Nations Championship after impressing against the Barbarians.
“I think it’s the best thing that could have happened to the squad,” said Kolisi on Tuesday. “Complacency can creep in when there’s nobody there to take your place. That’s not the case with us.
“There are so many guys on the same level. We are competing, but at the same time we are helping each other because the team comes first.
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“When we trained with the U20 group, the intensity was really high because they are fearless and they don’t know what the limit is.
“What we’re seeing from them, Coach Rassie can call on them at any time now if something happens to any of us and that’s a good thing.
“It’s been amazing to see the standard the U20s are working at. Coach Kevin Foote is doing a really great job with them.”
MORE: Why Rassie picked Riley over JJ
Kolisi revealed he spent part of his ‘off-season’ running on the Sea Point Promenade after the Sharks failed to qualify for the URC playoffs.
“We have fitness tests here and I was doing everything I could to make sure I got a good score,” he said.
“If you’re not fit enough, you can’t survive. You can’t play and you can’t be picked.
“No matter who you are, young or old, you have to be fit.”
MORE: Bok lock ‘touch and go’ for England
Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
The post Siya: Young guns pushing Boks higher appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Siya Kolisi believes the wave of young talent coming through South African rugby is helping drive standards higher than ever within the Springbok environment.
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