Rassie Erasmus says that Siya Kolisi’s humble nature has earned him much favour among Springbok fans. The Bok captain will soon celebrate his 100th international match when the team takes on France in Paris.
The Springbok leader has come a long way since making his debut against Scotland in 2013.
After gaining the captaincy role in 2018, he has gone on to become the most successful captain in Springbok history.
Some of the standout accolades include winning two Rugby World Cups (2019 and 2023), a British and Irish Lions series (2021), and back-to-back Rugby Championships.
Erasmus reflects on Kolisi’s journey
During a recent press conference, Rassie Erasmus shared some heartfelt words about the Springbok captain ahead of his milestone.
It was at the beginning of Rassie’s appointment as coach that Siya was called to become South Africa’s first black Springbok captain. The two both hail from the Eastern Cape and have shared a brief stint during Rassie’s days at the Stormers.
If there is one person who knows the growth of Kolisi, it would be him. In his reflection, he noted that Siya is a humble leader who puts the interests of others above his own.
In referring to his tough upbringing in Zwide, to the man he has become, Erasmus added:
“Whenever he gets the chance, he always tries to connect with South Africa because he understands what South Africa is about.
“His humility is one of the standout attributes for me.”
“He has been on the tough side of being a South African and has grown to be one of the great leaders in South Africa,” Erasmus explained.
Jim Hamilton argues that Siya has transcended the game
While praises for Siya Kolisi continue to echo from Springbok circles, the international rugby community share similar sentiments about the Bok skipper.
Retired Scotland lock, Jim Hamilton, who was pitchside when Kolisi made his debut in Nelspruit, says he witnessed something special in that match.
Speaking on The Big Jim Show, he said:
“I remember watching this lad. I was like, ‘Wow!’
“He just quietly went about his business. You could see in the interactions and the love from his fellow teammates, this was clearly a really liked young lad coming through. He got the match that day.”
“The rest is history. He has made history above history and has transcended the game.”
Despite the magnitude of the occasion, Erasmus adds that emotions will not distract the team from achieving their objectives.
