The one thing Kolisi didn't like despite an 80-point Bok victory

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi says they checked most of their boxes against the Barbarians in their clash at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.

The Boks kicked off their season in exciting fashion as they ran in 12 tries against the BaaBaas in an entertaining 80-31 romp, and while Kolisi lamented some “weak moments”, he said they achieved most of what they set out to do in their first match of the season.

While a team that scored 12 tries can’t really be criticised much, there were passages in play where the invitational side took control, particularly in the opening half.

Kolisi said the fact that they did not stick to the plan allowed Scott Robertson’s team into the game at certain stages.

“I think a lot of of the things we wanted to do we did, but when things did not go well and when we didn’t follow the plan we also got some lessons from that. So we saw that when we don’t follow the plan, these are the things that happen. We saw a lot of what we wanted to see and I think we could have controlled some of the opportunities better,” he said after the game.

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“The way we started, our kicking game and winning the scraps, I think we did that well. Then we started not making first-time tackles and letting them get their offloads away, which really got them in the game. They got the upper hand a bit in the first half.

During the captain’s press conference on Friday, the 35-year-old Kolisi joked that he was nowhere near the end of his playing days, and when asked how the legs felt at the start of yet another season against the opposition’s high-tempo game, he said: “I was fine, it’s just when we allow the other team in team to play how they want to play it becomes a bit hard.

“But I felt good in the game… I don’t know, coach will tell me afterwards how I played when we watch the game.

“I thought we played in the beginning how we wanted to play and then we had weak moments, but in general I felt food in the game.”

Kolisi was also asked to share a message to Bafana Bafana, who are playing in the FIFA World Cup.

The team played to a 1-1 draw against Czechia in Atlanta in a Pool A match on Thursday. They suffered defeat to Mexico in the opening match.

Kolisi explained how a disappointing start can sometimes serve as motivation, referencing their loss to New Zealand in Yokohama in their opening match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. The Springboks went on to become the first team in history to drop a pool game and go on to win the spectacle.

“It was a tough first loss, but the way they answered the second game and the amount of attacking they did, they just couldn’t get the opportunity, but they fought till the end. I really believe they have it in them, we don’t always get it right, like our first game in the World Cup we lost against New Zealand, so we just need to get behind them because I know for a fact Ronwen [Williams] and their team are giving their best all the time.

“So, let’s just be as positive as we can and get behind them. I can’t talk about the technical things, but what I know is the other team can’t outwork you. The intensity of the game is really important and I am sure they know that. As South Africans, coach will tell us that they never want to see us give up. There must always be fight but it must not look like a fight. That’s all I can say from my side, I can’t talk about the technical side.

He also wished the Proteas Women, who are currently competing in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the best.

“And then I also want to say good luck to the women’s cricket team, they came back and won a second game. So to Laura [Wolvaardt] and the girls, may they also do well.”