Kolisi admits he is sensitive to criticism online and tries to avoid it
SPOTLIGHT: Springbok captain Siya Kolisi says he is not strong enough to handle criticism and tries to avoid social media because he is not wired to deal with it.
Not because he doesn’t see value in it, but because he can’t afford to add another layer of pressure on himself.
Speaking on the eve of the opening round of the Rugby Championship against the Wallabies at Ellis Park, Kolisi opened up about the pressure that social media puts on him.
“I try and stay away from social media because sometimes I am not strong enough to take the criticism,” the captain said.
“Sometimes it does affect me, so I try not to read it. It is either very good or very bad, with little in between. The most important voices that I listen to are my coach, my coaching staff, and my teammates.
“You can be looking for something else [online], and you come across somebody saying you are not good enough. And it has affected me quite a lot in the past,” he said honestly.
“So I try to stay away from it and look at facts. I watch the games and study my opposition – that works a whole lot more for me.
“People can say that a certain player is not good enough or ready, and then on the day that player shows up.
“I look at what the opposition has done in the past. That helps me focus and get me ready for the game because I know what he is about to do. I watch clips over and over, which gives me the idea that he might do that again.
“I try and tell the up-and-coming guys that we have to focus on the people who matter, people who coach you.
“I’m not saying they shouldn’t listen to the media, because the media helps us with our stories and helps us get known.
“When you do well, your stories are told, and when you are doing badly, they are also being told.
“But for us, it’s all about rugby.
“I actually don’t have time to read everything because the amount of clips that we have to study is so much that I can’t add another layer.”
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