In the ever-unfolding storybook of South African sport, some chapters aren’t just written—they’re etched in the grain of rugby posts, sung in the stadium chants of Soweto, and soaked into the soil of Zwide’s dusty training grounds.
The latest episode in adidas’ “Plus One Effect” campaign doesn’t just turn a page—it pens an ode to legacy, loyalty, and the lifelong dance between athlete and ally.
Episode three of the six-part series zooms its lens not on trophies or tries, but on the unseen scaffolding that holds champions upright—their Plus Ones.
These are the mentors, motivators, and sideline sages whose encouragement morphs self-doubt into steel. It’s a series born from a sobering start: four in five athletes have experienced discouraging sideline behaviour, pushing many away from the very fields where they might’ve thrived. But where negativity erodes, belief builds. And belief is the beating heart of this story.
Enter the indomitable Siya Kolisi and his ever-present mentor, Rassie Erasmus.
A Coach, A Captain, and a Crusade
Siya Kolisi and Rassie_Erasmus Photo: adidas
Siya Kolisi’s story isn’t just a rags-to-rugby-riches tale—it’s a defiant sprint down the touchline of adversity, sidestepping poverty, pressure, and prejudice. Raised in Zwide, where rugby balls often shared field space with barefoot dreams and gravel patches doubled as playgrounds, Kolisi didn’t just play rugby—he clung to it like a lifeline.
“Rugby taught us responsibility and respect,” Kolisi reflects.
“It’s kept many of us out of trouble. Sport gave us a way out. And that’s why I chose Coach Rassie as my Plus One, for everything he’s done for me, for what he’s helped me become.”
Kolisi’s rise may have been inevitable to those who watched closely, but one man saw the flickers of fire early. It was Rassie Erasmus, then scouting talent like a gold panner at the river’s edge. In 2010, spotting an 18-year-old Kolisi in a match against the Cheetahs, Erasmus didn’t just see promise—he saw purpose. And in typical Rassie fashion, he acted on instinct.
“I don’t know what he saw in me back then, but I’ll forever be grateful,” Kolisi admits.
“He’s been honest, hard on me at times, but always backed me. He’s guided me both on and off the field.”
Their partnership, forged in the engine room of the Western Province Academy in Stellenbosch, evolved beyond coach and player. It became a brotherhood in boots, a mentorship bound by mud, sweat, and mutual trust.
From provincial battlegrounds to the sport’s greatest stage, they charged forward shoulder to shoulder—Erasmus in the coaches’ box, Kolisi on the field, both playing different positions in the same spiritual scrum.
Siya Kolisi Photo – adidas
Leadership in the Lineout of Life
In 2018, Erasmus made a seismic decision—he named Kolisi the Springboks’ captain, the first black man to wear that badge in the team’s century-old history. It wasn’t just a rugby move; it was a tectonic shift in national consciousness. And it paid off—twice over.
Together, they lifted the Rugby Championship trophy and, more monumentally, hoisted the Webb Ellis Cup twice, stitching their names into the very fabric of South African folklore.
“He was always a speedy flanker with grit and toughness,” Erasmus remembers.
“But it was his humility and hunger to learn that stood out. A good leader empowers those around him, including his coaches. Siya never expected special treatment; he took every opportunity, worked hard, and never lost anyone’s trust.”
Erasmus, who himself hails from the Eastern Cape, shared more than geography with Kolisi. They shared values carved from the granite of hardship and respect. Their bond was never about hierarchy—it was about harmony. They spoke the same language, not just in Xhosa or Afrikaans, but in rugby’s unwritten dialect: grit, respect, and unity.
The Heartbeat Behind the Hero
The “Plus One Effect” is more than a branding exercise—it’s a clarion call. In a world where social media trolls bark louder than schoolyard supporters, it reminds us of a sacred sporting truth: no athlete becomes a champion alone.
Kolisi is the face of modern South African rugby. But behind that broad smile and captain’s armband is a boy from Zwide who was once unsure, once unknown. And behind him, always just a few steps back, is Erasmus, the steady drumbeat beneath the war cry.
“It makes me happy to win a cup and see my team lift the trophy,” Erasmus says, “but what makes me happier is seeing the supporters and how happy it makes them and our country.”
And that is where the campaign’s soul lies—not in medals or merchandise, but in the shared humanity of sport. Kolisi and Erasmus didn’t just chase wins; they built bridges. From townships to test matches, from classrooms to clubhouses, they’ve proven that greatness is rarely a solo run—it’s a relay.
From Sideline to Spotlight
As adidas continues its crusade to champion the supporters behind every star, the Kolisi-Erasmus story shines as its crown jewel. It’s a reminder that every try scored began with someone saying, “I believe in you.” Sometimes that belief echoes from a stadium. Other times, it comes quietly from the mouth of a coach in a dusty changing room in Stellenbosch.
In Kolisi’s words: “He’s guided me both on and off the field.” In Erasmus’ actions, he’s never let go of the guiding hand.
The whistle may blow at full time, but the legacy of this Plus One effect will echo long after the studs stop crunching grass. Together, Siya and Rassie have shown us that behind every unstoppable player is someone who never stopped believing.
And as adidas reminds us in every heartbeat of this campaign: you got this.
To see Kolisi’s story in motion, visit: YouTube – adidas Plus One: Siya Kolisi
More on the ‘You Got This’ campaign: www.adidas.co.za/yougotthis
