Cheslin Kolbe deserves to be mentioned among the greatest players to have played the game.
That’s the assessment of former All Blacks captain Sam Cane amid criticism of the winger from some New Zealand scribes.
Cane has spent the last few seasons alongside the double world champion in Japan after joining Suntory Sungoliath following the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
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Having played with some of New Zealand’s finest backs during his career, including Will Jordan, Julian Savea, Corey Jane and Waisake Naholo, the 104-Test veteran said Kolbe’s ability still stands apart.
Asked on The Aftermatch with Kirst & Beav whether Kolbe had the best footwork he’d ever seen, Cane didn’t hesitate.
“Yeah, definitely,” he said.
“It’s one thing to watch him play on the weekend and be like, ‘Yeah, he’s a gun player’. But then to see him every week train is just phenomenal.
“He’d be up there as one of the greatest players of all time. What he is able to do is pretty much unmatched.
“For his size too, a lot of the good small guys just throw themselves into everything, and they’re so strong and powerful. It doesn’t matter if he’s affecting a cleanout or making a tackle, but the way he can jink…
“He scored tries at training where you just go, no one else scores those. I’ve never seen tries like it.
“After a couple of years, guys are sort of like, ‘It’s just another Cheslin try at training’.
“But you think, this is amazing. He has just chipped over the line, chipped over the fullback and scored. He is amazing.”
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Cane said his admiration for South African rugby extends beyond what the Springboks produce on the field, adding that Bok players have always been among the most welcoming after Test matches.
He has also grown close to Kolbe and fellow Springbok Jesse Kriel during his time in Japan.
“I’ve played with Cheslin for a few years at Suntory. They are all just such nice guys,” he said.
“I had a bit to do with Jesse Kriel over the years, and he’s at Canon, which is just down the road in Japan. So we’ll go out for a few dinners throughout the year.
“But even when we first came on the scene, I’m only a year or two older than Jesse, and he made the Springboks quite young too. Naturally, we were young fellas going into the changing rooms, so we’d gravitate towards each other.”
Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
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A former All Blacks captain says Cheslin Kolbe deserves to be mentioned among the greatest players to have played the game.
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