Kolisi’s selfless gesture inspires Springboks to victory
PARIS, FRANCE: When your captain, Siya Kolisi, is playing his 100th Test and has to leave the field at half-time because of a teammate’s red card, he accepts the decision with grace for the sake of the team.
Up against a fired-up French side desperate for revenge, a hostile Stade de France crowd, and a debatable red card to lock Lood de Jager, the world champions refused to flinch.
In true South African fashion, they turned adversity into motivation, showing trademark grit, composure, and an unbreakable team spirit to power their way to a 32–17 victory.
The Springbok management had to make critical decisions at half-time, including leaving their inspirational captain on the sideline for the second half.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus was full of praise, not only for the gracious way in which Kolisi had to see out his century, but also for the whole coaching staff who had to make vital plans with just 14 players available.
But when the message was conveyed to Kolisi, he accepted without hesitation
“To take our captain off in his 100th match because we had to put Andre [Esterhuizen] on to play loose forward and centre, depending on whether we had a scrum or a line-out, was a tough call,” Erasmus told a packed auditorium at the post-match press conference at Stade de France on Saturday evening.
“So it was for the captain to go off at half-time, but when we said it to him, he just took it on the chin and understood.
“Same with Damian de Allende, who was playing really well, but we also had to sub him with Andre so he can play both in the scrums and the backline.”
Erasmus credited the bench, amongst others, for their role in securing the win.
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“When the bench came on, the guys that started probably softened up the opposition, and then the bench could finish it.
“Even when Manie [Libbok] went on and Sacha [Feinbergh-Mngomezulu] moved to fullback, I thought everybody had a good impact.
“But that impact comes from the players understanding that it is a 23-man effort, and in our case, it’s 34 guys on tour.”
When asked about the half-time message, Erasmus deflected praise, instead crediting his assistant coaches for shaping the team’s response.
“The bench had a good impact, but I think overall it’s the plans the coaches made at half-time that made it easier for the guys that went on.
“The defence coach, attack coach, Duane [Vermeulen] with the breakdowns, Deon [Davids] the line-outs, Daan [Human] the scrums, and Tony [Brown] the attack.
“We had to make plans. I take very little credit for what was said at half-time. Because this bunch of players – and a lot of people said they are getting old – they are wiser and calmer under pressure.
“We desperately wanted to win this game. I know France are ranked fifth in the world, and people might say we are ranked No.1, so we should beat number five in the world.”
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Erasmus acknowledged that the atmosphere inside the stadium, with its boisterous crowd, was very intimidating. But it wasn’t their first rodeo, and they knew what to expect.
“Playing here – and the French can be so proud of their supporters – for us it was intimidating. But luckily, we’ve been through this before in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023.
“So the experience of the players showed at half-time – I wouldn’t say calmness, but making plans, and mostly the assistant coaches and the players.
“And of course we had to sacrifice some guys, [like Siya] playing his 100th test match and only playing a half, so credit to the whole group.”
Erasmus added that Kolisi even made an impact from the bench, such is the leader that he is.
“The impact Siya made from the bench was when the whole team saw the moment he was told that he wasn’t going to play the second half, and he said he totally understands.
“That impact is enough. Then the other players will say ‘our captain, who has played 100 games, is willing not to go in the second half for the team to win’.
“That impact is enough.”
Image by Brad Roberts
