Grand Hôtel des Sablettes Plage Hilton – Côte d’Azur France – Siya Kolisi says captaining the Springboks for the 50th time in a test match is something he would not have imagined in his wildest dreams.
The 32-year-old from Zwide in the Eastern Cape will notch up a half century as Bok captain when he leads South Africa in a Pool B World Cup clash against Tonga on Sunday (kick-off at 21:00).
Siya Kolisi and Jacques Nienaber Photo’s: World Rugby
Only John Smit (83) has captained the Boks in more test matches. Kolisi is followed by Jean de Villiers (37), Gary Teichmann (36), Francois Pienaar (29), Victor Matfield (23) and Dawie de Villiers (22).
“Honestly, it’s something I never thought would happen. Where I come from, I didn’t have dreams like that,” Kolisi said at the Bok Hotel in Les Sablettes.
“I played rugby because I enjoyed it, I played it because it kept me out of trouble, and I played it because most of my friends played it. I definitely didn’t think I would be sitting here now.”
“I’ve always been the joker in the team, the naughty one. Coach Fleckie (former Stormers coach Robbie Fleck) came to my wedding, and he heard me speak. After the wedding he said, ‘I think you should lead the team’.
“He gave me the captaincy after that, but it took a while. I would always be the joker, the last one at the party, the drunkest one in the room, and now I must be something different. It took a while, but I just try to be myself in everything I do.
“Being the first black captain was difficult”
Kolisi said it was not an easy task especially being the first black Springbok captain in South African rugby history.
“Here at the Springboks, that was tough. It was really difficult at the beginning because I don’t think there’s any greater honour, other than playing for the Springboks, to captain a team like this with its history and everything. Being the first black captain, it was difficult.
“In my mind I was being captain of the Springboks, it’s a big thing already, but for so many people it meant so much more and I didn’t understand the weight of it.
“I was fortunate to have the players we have in the group; Duane (Vermeulen), Eben (Etzebeth), Pieter-Steph (du Toit) who has captained the team as well as Handre Pollard – I honestly wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t have the guys that we have and also the coaching staff.
“They built things around me”
“Coach Rassie (Erasmus) understood. He knows me. He’s known me since I was 17 years old and Jacques since I was 18. They know what kind of person I am and they built things around me.
“My role hasn’t changed since that first game that I played. It’s simple; I just have to play well and talk to the ref. Honestly, without the team that we have, the players and the management, I don’t think I would have lasted.”
Kolisi said about the iconic Xhosa commentary from the late Kaunda Ntunja in which he introduced him as the first black captain in 2018, and what it means to him to hear Xhosa commentary on television in South Africa:
“He’s (Ntunja) is always in our thoughts. For black people in South Africa, I don’t think most people watched rugby until Xhosa commentary became a big thing.
“Listening to a sport that most people weren’t allowed to play for a very long time, and now you hear it in your own language and see it represented. It’s so big. Then you see people that look like you playing it.
“I think he took his style from Peter Drury. He studies you and he talks about you and he talks about your history.
“He makes an effort. He made me feel so special. I know he did one for (Makazole) Mapimpi, he did one for Lukhanyo (Am) – we felt seen, we felt important, but in our own language. That is a big thing, that is something that you can’t buy.
Makazole Mapimpi scores the Boks first ever try in a World Cup Final in Japan in 2019 Photo: World Rugby
“All his team, even now it’s still going on now. We see it and we appreciate it. We feel seen. It makes a difference, in the community now a lot more people watch rugby just to hear the commentary.
“We love listening to it. Some of the players always listen to the tries in Xhosa commentary because the way they’re so dramatic and express themselves, it’s so dramatic.”
The role of captain has not changed him as a person.
“I am always Siya the human being before anything else. When I’m a captain I have to talk to the ref, but other than that I try to be myself at all times. It is hard. You can’t tell people what to think of you but I see myself as Siya at all times.
“You can’t see yourself because of your position. That is going to go away but you must be constantly the same person, and if you’re not you need to have good people around you who’ll tell you you’re acting like what people are saying about you.
“I try and be Siya at all times.”
Kolisi explained the difference between his role as a loose forward and how positions six, seven and eight works in the South Africa team.
“I’m an openside flanker. I defend openside. I’m supposed to be a fetcher, but I’m not really a fetcher. In Europe seven is the openside flanker which is six for us. Then number eight is more the link between backs and forwards.”
What thrills him about playing rugby?
“Everything! Smashing someone, being smashed by someone and telling them, ‘I’m going to get you back’. Working as a team too and also when I’m struggling somewhere I don’t worry about it as I know someone will have my back.
“I give my best at all times and that’s how we play. That’s the commitment we have for one another. Give everything you can – captain, not captain, after 20 minutes you can be taken off because you have absolutely left everything on the field.
“You are going into something where you’re not in control of what might happen. The only thing you can control is what you do. You give all you can and work together as a team. It’s the best feeling being accountable to someone and someone being accountable to you.
“We know it’s not just us on the field it’s the people back home. It’s tough, you have to be brave. You have to have courage to do that but it’s also nice as it’s something we love.
“I’ve been doing it since I was a young kid, my whole family has been playing rugby. It’s something that comes naturally to me, but it still takes courage for you to step out and go play in front of so many people.”
Kolisi says his father and brother will unfortunately not be at the game, but his wife and kids will be there.
“I only found out (about it being the 50th test as captain) when they announced the team. If I’d known maybe I’d have brought them, but they will come later hopefully if we stay in the competition,” he added.
