Stephen Donald explains what made Cheslin Kolbe’s intercept ‘remarkable’ as Springboks star confirms status as ‘modern day great’
Springboks star Cheslin Kolbe's first try v All Blacks in Wellington in 2025 and ex-New Zealand fly-half Stephen Donald.
Former All Blacks fly-half Stephen Donald believes that Cheslin Kolbe showed why he is one of the ‘world’s greatest players’ with his game-changing try in Wellington.
The double Rugby World Cup winner would go on to score a brace in South Africa’s 43-10 triumph over New Zealand, but there was no doubt that his first was the most important.
It occurred in the 25th minute after the All Blacks had created an opportunity on their left-hand side. Samisoni Taukei’aho made the initial break through the middle before they moved the ball into the hands of Billy Proctor.
Clever Kolbe
The centre had an overlap with Kolbe isolated, but the Boks wing cleverly dummied to tackle before changing his line and going for the intercept.
Proctor took the bait and passed the ball to where the 31-year-old was situated. Kolbe still had plenty to do but he managed to tap the ball up, collect and sprint 80 metres to touch down.
“When Billy Proctor lets that pass go, I thought it was a try the other way and then of course Cheslin Kolbe, being one of the world’s greatest players, has other ideas,” Donald said on The Aftermatch with Kirst and Beav.
“The thing that I found remarkable about the Cheslin Kolbe intercept is, firstly, that we’ve got four-on-one there, we were walking in that one ourselves, maybe [Leroy] Carter gets a double on debut.
“Secondly, everyone knows the punishment now around intercepts and the big swing that can have in a game, so you don’t see guys going intentionally after too many these days.
“Thirdly, Cheslin Kolbe’s decided he is going to go the intercept route, but if you saw the end-on picture in one of the replays, his body movements for all intents and purposes, you can see why Proctor thought, ‘Beautiful, I’ve got Cheslin here. He’s squared up to me, he’s come to tackle me, I’m flicking it on’.
“And then, just at that last minute as it’s just leaving Billy Proctor’s hand, you can see him have the ability to change his body shape, change his angle and get in the passing lane.”
Why Kolbe’s intercept was so important
That try levelled the game up at 7-7 and, although the All Blacks added a penalty to move into a 10-7 lead at the break, they never managed to open up a comfortable enough buffer thanks to Kolbe.
The Springboks would dominate the second period, with their right wing scoring the try which took them ahead, before further efforts via Damian Willemse, Kwagga Smith, RG Snyman and Andre Esterhuizen sealed the win.
“It’s the speed and agility to do the movements he did in the first place, it’s also the confidence and backing yourself by going, ‘You know what, I’m not worried about getting sin-binned here, I will just get the intercept’,” Donald said.
“It’s a 14-point swing and he is really truly one of the modern day greats of our game. As hard as it was being an All Blacks fan on the night watching it, it was still special to see him go.”
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