Opinion: Forward brawn and Rassie’s brain too much to handle as ‘unbreakable’ Boks conquer France again
Opinion: Forward brawn and Rassie’s brain too much to handle as ‘unbreakable’ Boks conquer France again
Hours before 14-man South Africa came from behind to stun France and deny them World Cup revenge, Rassie Erasmus was passed a note praising him for his “bold leadership, vision, innovation and courage”.
It came from Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby, choosing to mark the occasion of Erasmus’ 50th Test by telling the Springboks’ head coach what he meant to the nation.
39 minutes into the game and the left shoulder of second row giant Lood de Jager thunders into the head of Thomas Ramos in as clear a red card offence as you will ever see.
The Boks are down a man, trailing the Six Nations champions and looking to their coach in desperate need of the qualities Alexander highlighted in the calm before the storm.
Erasmus has big decisions to make and does not hesitate. Siya Kolisi is sacrificed at half-time despite it being his 100th Test to allow for lock Ruan Nortje to take De Jager’s place in the engine room.
Andre Esterhuizen, a centre by trade, is thrust into the back row; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, rugby’s most in-form fly-half, shunted to fullback to accommodate Manie Libbok at 10.
A seismic shift at the Stade de France
What follows is a second half performance to set alongside what the Boks did to New Zealand after half-time in Wellington. 36-0 in the Cake Tin might not equate in margin to 19-3 at Stade de France, but do not be misled.
This was every bit as seismic a shift, made all the more remarkable by Kolisi’s revelation later that Erasmus’ pre-match attention to detail went as far as formulating a path to victory with a man sent off.
“We prepared for having a red card on the field,” said the captain. “The coach said it might happen because of the intensity of the game and how physical it was going to be.
“We said, do you know what, if it happens, so be it. We keep on moving.”
They did that alright. Some, perhaps motivated by the way their 2023 World Cup triumph was greeted in certain quarters, one-point wins over France, England and New Zealand in the knockout rounds, damning them with faint praise.
The majority, though, by a burning desire to honour their skipper on the night he became the ninth Springbok to reach three figures.
When handed his player of the match medal later, Feinberg-Mngomezulu says the joy he feels comes from “making Siya’s day. He’s done so much for me and the whole country”.
Right on cue, Kolisi is hoisted onto the shoulders of RG Snyman and Eben Etzebeth and carried from the field. There follows a presidential tribute.
“Siya Kolisi’s century of Tests is a testament to resilience, leadership and inspiration,” Alexander says.
“From humble beginnings in Zwide to lifting the Webb Ellis Cup twice as our captain, it is the story of a boy who dared to dream, of a leader who rose to unite a nation and of a champion who carried the hopes of millions on his shoulders – with humility, courage and grace.”
Being subbed off at half-time with the eyes of the world watching is nobody’s idea of a perfect way to celebrate such a milestone, yet to see how Kolisi responds in the face of adversity is to understand why he is so revered.
Watch the immediate aftermath to De Jager’s red card. A minute left in the half and France go for the jugular, roared on by a full house. Their forwards pile over the gain line and the ball comes back to Anthony Jelonch.
The Toulouse flanker puts his head down and tears into a half-space, the crowd baying for a knockout blow. Kolisi sees the danger and throws himself at his opposite number, knocking the ball from his grasp and ending the half. It is a crucial intervention.
A leader on and off the field
When the game restarts, the skipper is on the bench. Yet rarely sitting on it. He lives every moment as the Boks absorb one French blow after another before Louis Bielle-Biarrey is yellow-carded for a deliberate knock on, freeing space on the field for Esterhuizen to score and put them ahead for the first time.
“They’re tired, they’re tired, let’s go,” Kolisi screams from the sideline. His team responds. Malcolm Marx wins a penalty, Nortje takes the lineout and Grant Williams snipes his way over for try number three.
Twelve unanswered points with Bielle-Biarrey in the bin and the game is turned on its head. France regain a numerical advantage, but it’s too late. Feinberg-Mngomezulu makes it four and that’s that.
There will be no revenge for France’s World Cup quarter-final loss, no consolation for a Les Bleus team which built a platform to win the game through Damian Penaud’s two early tries, only to be knocked off it by forward brawn and Rassie’s brain.
For Kolisi, it is another proud moment to add to his storied career. Typically, though, he deflects individual praise, preferring to focus on his teammates.
“I’m so proud of the boys,” Kolisi tells TNT Sports. “[Reaching 100 caps] means a lot to me but everything I’ve done is not by my own doing. I’m nothing without the boys here.”
On a wild, epic night at Stade de France, it was that collective spirit which prevailed. Unmatched, unbreakable, unbeatable.
