Bok captain gets Durban reboot

PROFILE | SIYA KOLISI BOK CAPTAIN GETS DURBAN REBOOT BOK CAPTAIN GETS DURBAN REBOOT

A SUDDEN AND SURPRISING MOVE FROM THE STORMERS TO THE SHARKS HAS REVITALISED SIYA KOLISI TO LEAD THE SPRINGBOKS

South Africa’s Mr Rugby, Siya Kolisi, is the inspirational leader of the Springboks who has made a rags-to-riches journey to the green and gold.

This journey reached its apex when he captained the Boks to glory at the 2019 World Cup. Kolisi hails from the township of Zwide in the Eastern Cape and he consequently had to overcome great odds to earn a place in rugby’s professional ranks.

The sight of Kolisi lifting the Webb Ellis Cup resonated with many South Africans and thrust him into the global echelon of sporting fame as he became the fi rst rugby player ever to join powerhouse agency Roc Nation Sports.

But injuries have tarnished Kolisi’s post-World Cup career. In the opening match of the 2020 Super Rugby competition, he suffered a serious

Above: Kolisi exchanges shirts with the Brooklyn Nets’ Spencer Dinwiddie before an NBA game at Barclays Center in December 20 19

FAST FACT

Kolisi’s autobiography, Rise, will be released in September, with a portion of the proceeds going towards community development around South Africa

Kolisi started for the Sharks against his former side, the Stormers, at Cape Town Stadium in the Rainbow Cup

Kolbe has scored 31 tries for Toulouse in 77 matches. I’ll email you a fast fact now, Stu

Kolisi made signifi cant changes this year to dedicate himself to realising his full potential as an athlete

knee injury shortly before a national lockdown kept South African players out of action for the next six months.

When domestic rugby resumed in October, Kolisi only had two matches under his belt when a breakdown contest resulted in a hamstring tear that forced him back into the medical room.

He recovered to lead Western Province in their Currie Cup semi-fi nal, where they were beaten by the Sharks in what was the last match played at the historic Newlands Stadium.

It was Kolisi’s fi nal match for Province as in March he confi rmed a much-speculated move to the Sharks, ending a decade-long association with rugby in the Western Cape.

The move presented Kolisi with the ‘fresh start’ he so desperately needed, and forced him to adapt as a leader and player in an unfamiliar, and therefore challenging, environment.

Kolisi was candid about his situation on arrival at Kings Park. He admitted that consistent game time was required to settle into his stride, and to start contributing on the fi eld as much as anywhere else.

The responsibilities associated with being named Bok captain have pulled Kolisi in many directions over the past two seasons and he made signifi cant changes this year to dedicate himself to realising his full potential as an athlete.

It is ominous news for the Lions that Kolisi has looked like his old self since moving to Durban. While his debut campaign for the Sharks in the Rainbow Cup was by no means perfect, it did offer a glimpse of what he offers the world champions.

The Sharks put the veteran fl anker on a strict conditioning programme, the benefi ts of which saw Kolisi roaming in the wider channels and making energetic ball-carries.

While he is not the quintessential fetcher often associated with a fl anker of his dimensions, Kolisi is a highly effective all-rounder in a potent Springbok back-row arsenal.

The Lions can expect a rejuvenated force to lead South Africa into the Test series.