Kolisi Thrilled to Be Back

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi was thrilled to be back in action for the Boks for the first time this season at the Mbombela Stadium and said he could not wait to experience the “amazing crowd” when they line up against Georgia on Saturday in their closing Castle Lager Incoming Series match.

Kolisi – who made his Test debut at the same venue back in June 2013 against Scotland – likened the support in Nelspruit to the passionate supporters in Gqeberha last week, where the Boks defeated Italy 45-0, and said while the team were bracing themselves for a hard grind of a match, every player looked forward to the challenge.

“It’s always fantastic to play here,” said Kolisi. “The vibe at the stadium is amazing, and we know that it will be similar to last week in Gqeberha, where the crowd really got involved and inspired us. We are very grateful to the people coming to the stadium. They definitely lift us, so we are grateful for their support.”

Commenting on being back in the green and gold jersey after missing the last three matches due to nursing injuries, Kolisi said it’s been tough not playing.

“I would have loved it, but just being in the camp and seeing all the guys again has been good for me,” he said. “The environment in the team helps a lot both on and off the field.”

The double Rugby World Cup-winning captain brushed off concerns by the media that the Boks would play a fully uncapped front row, with props Boan Venter and Neethling Fouche, and hooker Marnus van der Merwe all set to make their Test debuts, saying: “I’m very proud of the guys earning their first Test caps, and as a group, we feel there is enough experience in the team for them to know we have their backs.

“They’ve been training against the likes of Ox (Nche), Wilco (Louw), and Malcolm (Marx), among others, and the players around them have played Test rugby before. Over and above that, a scrum is not only about the front row, it involves everyone in the pack doing their bit, and everyone in the team knows what they have to do.”

Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick spoke highly of the Georgians and said the Boks knew exactly how tough their players are and how passionate they will be to represent their country, so there was no risk of underestimating them.

“Georgia are a physical team, and they pride themselves on their set pieces, so we know having to match that will be the toughest part for us,” said Stick.

“I’ve been to Georgia, and I’ve seen how tough their players are, but the key for us is to improve on our standards consistently, and as coaches, we feel there is still room for improvement, so we are hoping to see the players execute the game plan as well as possible and to play with the intensity we expect.”

Both Stick and Kolisi wished the Junior Springboks luck for their World Rugby U20 Championship final against New Zealand on Saturday and said they were proud of the team.

“We follow all their games, and they are certainly making the country proud,” said Stick. “One can see that they know what it means to represent the country, and what really stands out for me is their fighting spirit and the cohesion in the team. We’ll definitely watch tomorrow, and we support them all the way.”

Kolisi added: “They are definitely setting a standard, and it’s great to see how they are taking their opportunities. Everyone in the squad is doing what is expected of them, so we wish them well and we’ll be watching and supporting them.”

The Bok Test kicks off at 17h10 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport. The Junior Boks’ final in Italy kicks off at 20h30.