Siya Kolisi again showed why his value to the Springboks extends far beyond the captaincy as they took a 2-1 series lead against the All Blacks, writes MARK KEOHANE.
Writing for the Sunday Times, Keohane hailed Kolisi after he captained the Boks to a 29-24 victory at FNB Stadium, his record 55th Test win as skipper, having emptied the tank for close to an hour before South Africa took control of the contest.
“Kolisi is a great player and an equally great captain,” he writes. “He is comfortably the most influential player to ever lead the Springboks.”
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Keohane says Kolisi was again at the heart of a Bok response that began with the 33-26 victory in Cape Town after their 33-16 defeat at Ellis Park. Alongside Eben Etzebeth, Malcolm Marx and Pieter-Steph du Toit, the captain formed part of an experienced forward core that delivered when the series was on the line.
“When the Boks needed their most experienced forward leaders to make the most on-field noise this quartet produced the highest quality of rugby music,” Keohane writes. “This was no symphony but pure hard rock in a way that only the Springboks can produce.”
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Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel also impressed in successive victories, while Keohane believes the emergence of Ethan Hooker, Jasper Wiese and the growing maturity of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu showed the next generation is increasingly capable of complementing the Boks’ established stars.
The result gave the Boks a seventh victory in their past nine Tests against the All Blacks and, for Keohane, reinforced the ability of this Bok group to deliver when the stakes are highest.
“These Boks know how to win the most important matches, and this one was the most important in South Africa since the third and final Test against the British & Irish Lions in Cape Town in 2021.”
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
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Siya Kolisi again showed why his value to the Springboks extends far beyond the captaincy as they took a 2-1 series lead against the All Blacks, writes MARK KEOHANE.
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