'I never thought I'd play 50 Tests' - Kolbe reflects on milestone
REACTION: Cheslin Kolbe marked his 50th Springbok appearance in fitting fashion on Saturday, scoring a spectacular first-half try and adding five conversions as South Africa dismantled England 45-21 at Ellis Park.
The electric winger reached the milestone with another performance that underlined his status as one of world rugby’s premier finishers, but afterwards insisted the occasion was about far more than personal accolades.
Kolbe admitted that as a youngster, he never truly believed he would one day pull on the green and gold 50 times.
“If you had asked me as a young kid if I would represent the Springboks and get to 50 caps, probably not, even though it was always a dream,” Kolbe said.
“It just shows you what can happen when coaches and teammates trust you and believe in you.
“From my first cap to my 50th, every opportunity has been a dream come true.”
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The 32-year-old said his motivation remains as strong as ever, with no thoughts of slowing down.
“As long as that fire keeps burning, I’ll keep contributing to this team and this country the best that I can.
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity and I give God all the praise and glory.”
Kolbe also reflected on the doubts he faced earlier in his career, when many questioned whether his size would allow him to succeed at the highest level.
“A lot of people thought I was too small, but things happen for a reason.
“The coaches believed in me from my first cap, and I’m fortunate to play alongside such amazing players with so much experience.”
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Despite reaching a major personal milestone, Kolbe stressed that the Springboks’ culture has always placed the team above the individual.
“For me it’s never about the individual.
“The boys kept us [Kolbe and Damian Willemse] calm throughout the week because the nerves were definitely there.
“At the end of the day it’s another game of rugby, and we just want to get better every time we play.”
Kolbe’s dazzling try helped South Africa seize control early before the Springboks powered away after halftime.
Although the final score suggested a comfortable evening, Kolbe said England proved every bit as competitive as expected.
“This game is definitely up there,” he said.
“Every Test match is special, but we knew England weren’t going to be easy.
“They had a lot of confidence, especially with so many Northampton players coming in after winning the Premiership.”
He admitted England enjoyed periods of dominance late in the first half before the Springboks wrestled back control after the interval.
“The message all week was that we needed to start well.
“Towards the end of the first half they dominated us a bit, but I thought the boys reacted really well in the second half.
“We stuck to the plan, made sure we stayed on top of them, built momentum and the aerial battle was a proper contest.”
“I’m just grateful for the 50th cap and, God willing, hopefully there are many more to come.”
