Siya Kolisi’s 100th Test is a story of skill, endurance and evolution – not just inspiration, writes MARK KEOHANE.
Writing for the Sunday Times, Keohane says Kolisi’s greatness goes far beyond the symbolism of his rise.
“His 100th Test makes him the ninth Springbok into the centurion’s club, but it is not his leadership that got him into this exclusive club, it’s his qualities as a Test player,” he writes.
Kolisi has started 71 of his Tests under Rassie Erasmus since 2018, second only to Eben Etzebeth.
“He gets picked because he is the best No 6,” says Keohane, who credits Kolisi’s balance, intelligence and power as central to the Bok blueprint.
KEO: Super Sacha leads the Boks’ centurion celebrations for Siya
Former Stormers coach Robbie Fleck calls Kolisi a hybrid loose forward – “not a fetcher who plays only to the ball, but a player who can carry, link and do damage near the touchline.”
Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber built their plan around Kolisi’s explosive first 45 minutes, asking him to “empty the tank” before replacements took over.
For all the leadership plaudits, Keohane insists Kolisi’s rugby remains his defining gift.
“When Kolisi plays for the Springboks, there is an added edge to their threat,” he writes. “His story may be romantic, but his game is pure substance.”
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
The post Kolisi’s greatness built on rugby, not romance appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.