Springboks hero: Returning Siya Kolisi ‘has that Madiba touch’ as South Africa could do ‘something spectacular’
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi and former South African president Nelson Mandela.
Springboks’ 1995 Rugby World Cup hero Joel Stransky has compared Siya Kolisi to the great former South African president Nelson Mandela.
In 2018, Kolisi became the first black captain of the Boks and has led them them to back-to-back World Cups in 2019 and 2023.
As well as being an outstanding player, the Springboks loose forward has been particularly praised for his leadership and returns from injury to skipper the side this weekend.
Stransky kicked the winning points against the All Blacks in the 1995 final, a game which was also remembered for the moment Mandela handed Francois Pienaar the Webb Ellis Cup.
‘An inspiration’
“As a leader, as an inspiration, as someone who just carries that team with him wherever he goes, he (Kolisi) almost has that Madiba touch,” the former fly-half told Sport Nation.
“When Nelson Mandela wished a team well, they went on and they did something spectacular, and I think Siya Kolisi bears that sort of legacy.
“He’s just this charismatic human being, he is loving and warm to his team-mates and to the fans, he drags those guys along and they play for each other because I think inside that camp they love each other like brothers.
“They play for their families and they play for this country like no one has ever done it before. We all love our country, we all go out there, but they talk the talk and they walk the walk, and he is the man who drives it. He is a massive force.”
Springboks hero: ‘I don’t think anyone expected us to lose to the All Blacks, it’s a massive blow’
There were doubts over Kolisi’s participation with the captain only playing if he got through training, but he has recovered fully to take his place in the team.
He therefore reclaims the leadership responsibility off fellow flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit, will earn his 100th cap for the Springboks this weekend.
Du Toit, who was born in Cape Town and played for five years at the Stormers, will get the honour of leading the team out as they look to level the series at 1-1.
Rassie Erasmus’ perfect planning
“Sometimes these big milestones go a little bit awry and things don’t quite work out, but for him hopefully it’s not the case,” Stransky added.
“I actually think Rassie plans these things, I think he looks ahead and says: ‘Okay, Pieter-Steph’s going to reach his 100th somewhere in that zone, let’s make it on that day in Cape Town in front of his family, his home crowd, his people’.
“It couldn’t be a better place and Rassie’s thought about it and gone, ‘we could do it in Argentina two weeks before. No, let’s do it at his base against the All Blacks on a spectacular occasion’.
“I think there’s a bit of planning that’s gone in there and even if there isn’t, it’s just the perfect place for the big guy.
“He’s been World Rugby Player of the Year, he’s been iconic, he’s a captain now. As a player and a man, a gentle giant and a wonderful guy but on the field he’s rock hard and hard as nails, and he comes with brute force.
“You don’t want to cross him on the field.”
