Captain Siya Kolisi has downplayed his own leadership milestones after the Springboks’ 29-24 win over the All Blacks at FNB Stadium. CLINTON VAN DER BERG reports.
Kolisi on Saturday became the most successful Bok captain in history with 55 Test wins. However, he was quick to shift focus away from himself.
“If this were tennis it would be different, but this is a team sport. It shows the work Rassie [Erasmus] and his coaching staff put in,” he said.
“We’ve got so many leaders in this side that I really only have one job to do, which is focus on my own game.”
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Kolisi also highlighted the importance of the collective effort throughout the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series, which the Boks now lead 2-1.
“The way the coaches rotate the team and give other guys opportunities keeps everyone hungry. If you don’t get picked this week, you know your chance is coming. It also keeps us fresh so we’re not overplayed. It’s a group effort, and I’m really happy about that.”
On the significance of playing in front of a packed FNB Stadium, Kolisi was visibly moved by what the occasion meant beyond the result.
“It was really special. We always say we won’t just say thank you in words, but through our effort. We were tested in that first 25 minutes, they came out firing, and we had to dig deep to fight our way back into it.”
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Kolisi pointed to a moment described by Erasmus, of children running to catch a glimpse of the team bus despite being unable to afford tickets, as central to why the Test was brought to Soweto in the first place.
“They can’t afford to come and watch us play, but seeing that, and understanding the history of this place, the young people who fought so that we could be sitting here today, that’s why we wanted this game here,” he said. “That’s what we play for, not just the people who can afford it, but everyone.”
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Despite the win, Kolisi refused to call it the squad’s best performance of the campaign.
“I thought we played better in the first Test [at Ellis Park], we just didn’t convert our chances,” he said, pointing to defensive lapses and missed opportunities in attack as areas still to fix.
“There’s still so much more we can do. Our defence in particular can get better.”
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Kolisi was clear that continuity, not just talent, would determine how far this group could go.
“Playing together more consistently helps a great deal, and I’m looking forward to what we can build on next week [in Baltimore].”
Photo: Floris van Schouwenburg/Gallo Images
The post Siya savours ‘really special’ occasion appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Captain Siya Kolisi has downplayed his own leadership milestones after the Springboks’ 29-24 win over the All Blacks at FNB Stadium.
The post Siya savours ‘really special’ occasion appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
