South African rugby changed forever when Siya Kolisi led the Springboks against England at Ellis Park on June 9 2018. At that moment, Kolisi became the first black African Test captain and the Boks — as many observed at the time — became a team for all South Africans.
Kolisi’s story didn’t end there. Coach Rassie Erasmus emphasised that Kolisi was not a political appointment; he deserved his starting place, and was the right leader for this group of warriors.
Erasmus’s words echoed over the next six years as Kolisi and his teammates won back-to-back World Cup titles. In the wake of the most recent triumph, in France, former Bok captain John Smit — who is widely recognised as one of the greatest leaders the sport has ever seen — declared that the class of 2023 is the best of all time, and that Kolisi is a special player and person.
Kolisi’s rise from the township of Zwide to the pinnacle of the sport is well documented. After winning the 2019 World Cup in Japan, he set out to help those in need through his foundation. He rubbed shoulders with the likes of Roger Federer and Jürgen Klopp, and learnt how to strike a balance between philanthropy and sporting obligations.
Some people in the South African rugby industry feared that he’d succumb to the celebrity lifestyle and that his game would suffer as a result. But when the Covid restrictions were lifted in 2021, he led the Boks to a monumental series victory against the British & Irish Lions, and improved to the point where he was one of South Africa’s best players over the 2021 and 2022 seasons.
The nation held its breath when he went down with a knee injury while playing for the Sharks in a United Rugby Championship match against Munster in April. Scans of the injury confirmed the worst: an anterior-cruciate ligament tear. It would require surgery and possibly a six- to nine-month layoff. It meant Kolisi would miss the World Cup in France.
But he refused to give up on the possibility of leading the team in defence of their triumph in Japan. A specialist who had performed a “miracle” surgery to repair a similar injury to Bok teammate Pieter-Steph du Toit in 2015 did the same for Kolisi.
As Smit noted, these Springboks had earned the title of ‘greatest team ever’, not just by winning a record four World Cup titles and two back-to-back trophies, but by winning the hard way
When the Boks convened for the Rugby Championship, Kolisi joined them and was heavily involved in the planning for the World Cup to follow, all the while continuing with his rehabilitation.
Many doubted the captain would be fit for France, but Kolisi was backed as captain when the World Cup team was named in August.
A few weeks later Kolisi made a successful comeback, delivering an industrious performance against Wales in a friendly. It included a classic pass to set up a try for Malcolm Marx. The sceptics were silenced. What followed was even better: a record-breaking 35-7 win against the All Blacks at Twickenham. Kolisi was back, but the pressure was always there. The captain and his teammates embraced the challenge of defending the World Cup.
As Smit noted at the end, these Springboks had earned the title of “greatest team ever”, not just by winning a record four World Cup titles and two back-to-back trophies, but by winning the hard way.
Over the course of the playoffs, Kolisi’s Boks beat France, England and finally New Zealand, each by a single point. While the mettle of the collective must be acknowledged, so too must the leadership. There were many nervous moments, but the Boks always believed that they’d pull through.
In his autobiography, Rise, Kolisi suggests that the 2023 World Cup will be his Test swansong. But after the Boks’ victory in France, and after witnessing the celebrations over the course of the trophy tour across South Africa, he may have cause to delay his retirement from the international stage.
The 32-year-old is playing club rugby for Racing 92 in France. This may jeopardise his claim to the Bok captaincy (a home-based player might be preferred), but he might continue to form part of the leadership group.
The Boks host Ireland in a two-Test series in July 2024, and will chase an elusive Rugby Championship title thereafter. There’s already talk of the team preparing for the 2027 World Cup, where they could become the first team in history to claim three successive titles.
It may seem an unlikely outcome, but then Kolisi and so many individuals in this special group have overcome greater odds. It would be unwise to bet against them.
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