Siya Kolisi will ‘not hold back’ and hopes for ‘ugly, tough’ All Blacks clash
Siya Kolisi and Trevor Nyakane tackle Beauden Barrett.
Captain Siya Kolisi says that the Springboks will not be holding back against New Zealand when the two sides clash at Twickenham on Friday evening.
The match marks the final game for both teams before the start of the Rugby World Cup, but Kolisi says that neither side sees the 104th edition of the rivalry as a friendly.
“This is not a friendly”
“The fact that the All Blacks selected a full-strength side for the match shows their intent,” said Kolisi ahead of the sold-out clash at the home of English Rugby.
“This is not a friendly. In fact, we’ve never had a friendly against them. It’s going to a big physical battle, and we are excited about it.”
Kolisi is set to feature in his second game back since his return from injury, but that won’t mean that he will be shying away from the clash.
“We will not hold back at all,” the World Cup-winning captain stated.
“There are 80,000 people coming to the match, and we owe it to them to give our all.
“There are also not many opportunities such as this to face the All Blacks in the northern hemisphere, so it’s going to be a special game.
“It’s also our last match before the Rugby World Cup, so we want to make the most of the occasion. Hopefully, it will be an ugly, tough game, but beautiful at the same time.”
Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick echoed his captain’s sentiments as he also anticipates an epic contest.
“Playing against the All Blacks is always tough,” the Bok coach said.
“So, this will be a good measure for the guys to test themselves before the World Cup.”
Kolisi pleased with his recovery
After a strong showing against Wales last weekend, Kolisi said that he is pleased with the progression he has made following his serious knee injury.
However, he is keen to kick it up a gear against New Zealand as the World Cup draws nearer.
“I felt good this week, and going into the match,” Kolisi said.
“I’ll give as much as I can again and see for how long I can go. Everything I wondered about I experienced last week, so I am certainly feeling more confident, and I’m not going to hold back.
“What’s meant to happen is going to happen, so I’m not going to hold back anything, you know, and try and protect myself to try and go to the World Cup; that’s not going to help if I meant to be hurt again, it will happen.
“I have to go play with the same mindset as I did last week, give everything I can, go flat out and not hold back and see where that takes me.”
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