Dan Biggar hails contribution of ‘out-and-out leader’ Siya Kolisi in Springboks’ triumph against All Blacks
Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi and ex-Wales and British & Irish Lions fly-half Dan Biggar (inset).
Dan Biggar has praised Springboks captain Siya Kolisi’s contribution during his team’s victory against the All Blacks in Saturday’s Greatest Rivalry Test in Cape Town.
South Africa were under tremendous pressure after they suffered a 33-16 defeat to New Zealand in the series’ opening Test at Ellis Park in Johannesburg but turned the tables on their arch-rivals when they clinched a 33-26 triumph in the rematch at the DHL Stadium this past weekend.
Missed the first Test due to injury
Experienced back-row Kolisi missed the opening Test due to a hamstring injury which meant Paul de Villiers wore the number six jersey in that encounter but although the rookie flanker gave a good account of himself, he dropped out of the Boks‘ matchday squad for the Cape Town Test when Kolisi was declared fit.
And Biggar believes Kolisi’s return to action was a major reason for the world champions turning the tables on the All Blacks.
“I actually thought Siya Kolisi was amazing on the weekend,” he said on Biggar Thinking: Rugby Analysis. “I know he only played 42, 43 minutes.
“Rassie (Erasmus) said that the lack of game-time over the last six, seven weeks is the reason why he pulled Siya off.
“But I just thought his ability on both sides of the ball, the way in which he carried, the way in which he defended, smoking people, carrying, dragging the team with him.
‘I thought he was brilliant’
“I don’t think he gets enough credit for his ability as a rugby player. I thought he was brilliant. I thought he was brilliant against Argentina for that 20, 25 minutes that he played a few weeks ago.
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“I just think for me, when you have Siya Kolisi, that type of leader, inspirational person on the field, I think it’s worth five to 10 points.
“And I think you saw the leadership, the way in which he, even when he was off the pitch, dragging teams, team-mates forward, pointing at posts, deciding, you know, just being an out-and-out leader.
“So, I thought he was fantastic on the weekend and a brilliant rugby player, as well as a brilliant leader.”
