Siya Kolisi reveals why he still gets nervous before Springbok Tests
VIDEO: When Siya Kolisi first led the Springboks onto Ellis Park against England in 2018, he was beginning a journey that would transform South African rugby history.
Eight years later, he returns to Johannesburg as a double World Cup-winning captain, one of the game’s most respected leaders and the heartbeat of Rassie Erasmus’ world champions.
Yet despite everything he has achieved, one thing has never changed.
The nerves.
Kolisi says they remain as intense as they were before his first Test as captain. In fact, he believes losing those butterflies would be the clearest sign that his international career is nearing its end.
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“I think when the nerves and the butterflies go, that’s when it’s your time to stop,” Kolisi said.
“I still feel the same as I felt in my first game. I’m always nervous.”
As kickoff approaches, the 35-year-old no longer tries to fight those emotions. Instead, he embraces a familiar routine that has carried him through some of rugby’s biggest occasions.
“The closer I get to the game, I look for peace,” he explained.
“I just try to calm down because there’s nothing you can do that will get you more prepared. I switch off and listen to my worship music just to calm myself because when you get closer to the game, you know you’re going to have to switch on.”
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While Kolisi remains the face of the Springboks, he insists leadership within the squad has evolved dramatically since that first meeting with England.
The burden doesn’t rest on one captain.
Instead, South Africa’s success has been built on a squad where every player is encouraged to contribute, regardless of age or experience.
“I’ve been lucky because I’ve got guys that I’ve been playing with for so long, but also the new guys come with different ideas,” he said.
“What I enjoy about this group is that everybody has a voice. Sometimes the people who haven’t been here for very long make us see things differently.
“When there’s a stoppage, everybody brings their own points because we’re all leaders in this group. If one person falls, nobody stresses because everybody has something to say.”
That leadership depth has become one of the defining characteristics of Erasmus’ Springboks, helping them navigate pressure moments that have delivered two World Cup titles and established them as the benchmark in world rugby.
Kolisi’s preparation, however, has remained remarkably unchanged.
Even after more than a decade in Test rugby and countless high-pressure matches, the emotional build-up remains identical.
“I’m still nervous every single time I play,” he said.
A former teammate once offered Kolisi advice that has stayed with him throughout his career.
“He told me when we were driving to the stadium one day that when you lose that feeling, when you lose the nerves, then you probably know your time is up.”
The only obvious difference since that first Ellis Park meeting with England?
As Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick jokingly pointed out, his hair has become a little greyer.
Everything else, Kolisi says, feels exactly the same.
