Kolisi reveals what happened under the posts during England thriller

SPOTLIGHT: Siya Kolisi says the day he first captained the Springboks against England at Ellis Park “changed my life” — and eight years later, he returns to the same stage as one of the most successful leaders in rugby history.

As the Springboks shift their focus from the Barbarians to England, one of the most memorable days in South African rugby history comes sharply back into view.

When England return to Ellis Park on July 4 for South Africa’s first official Test of the 2026 season in the Nations Championship, they will do so at the venue where the modern Springbok era truly began eight years ago.

The dramatic 42-39 victory over England in June 2018 was more than just a thrilling comeback. It marked Rassie Erasmus’ first Test win as Springbok coach and Siya Kolisi’s debut as South Africa’s first black African Test captain – the beginning of a journey that would eventually deliver back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles.

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This year’s clash carries extra significance for Kolisi. The Springbok skipper will lead South Africa for the 72nd time, returning to the same ground and facing the same opposition where his leadership journey started.

There had been enormous anticipation surrounding his appointment as captain, but the celebrations quickly turned into a nightmare when Eddie Jones’ England stormed into a 24-3 lead inside the opening 20 minutes.

The Springboks were rattled, and their new captain felt the weight of the moment.

This week, Rugby365 asked the 35-year-old skipper about his memories of that occasion.

“I remember it was very tough and emotional,” Kolisi reflected.

“I think the emotions got the better of me. I struggled a bit, but the team did well, and I had so many great leaders around me.”

It was a defining lesson in leadership. Rather than trying to solve everything himself, Kolisi learned to lean on the experienced voices around him.

“I remember England went 21 points up and everybody looked at me under the posts,” he recalled.

“I said, ‘I have no answers.’ Then I looked at the guy next to me and asked, ‘Do you have something to say?’”

Veterans such as Duane Vermeulen and Willie le Roux stepped up, helping steady a side that was still finding its feet under a new coaching regime.

At the time, Erasmus and his management team had only been in charge for a matter of weeks. The Springboks were adapting to new systems, including Jacques Nienaber’s defensive structures, and confidence was still fragile following years of inconsistency.

“We were learning a new defensive system, and a lot was going on,” Kolisi said.

“Jacques was standing under the posts screaming at us not to stop doing what we were doing. Rassie has known me since I was 18 years old. He knew I would struggle at the beginning, and he put systems in place that allowed me to focus on what I needed to do.”

The Springboks responded with one of the greatest comebacks in Test rugby history, overturning a 21-point deficit to secure a famous 42-39 victory and launch a new era for South African rugby.

“That 2018 match was a huge learning opportunity for me and it obviously changed my life,” Kolisi said.

“Now I’m able to share those experiences with the other guys when they’re in the leadership group as well.”

Eight years later, Kolisi returns to Ellis Park not as a captain finding his feet, but as a double World Cup-winning leader preparing to guide the Springboks into another major international campaign – at the very stadium where it all began.