Siya Kolisi recalls 'horror' captaincy debut ahead of 72nd milestone against England

<p>“I remember it was very tough and emotional,” Kolisi said of the match, eventually won 42-39 after a magnificent South African comeback.</p>

<p>"I think the emotions got the better of me. I struggled a bit, but the team did well, and I had so many great leaders around me.”</p>

<p>Among the helping hands were senior Boks Duane Vermeulen and Willie le Rou,x as Kolisi learned a vital lesson about captaincy — it is not a one-man job.</p>

<p>“That was where I actually learned how to use the people around me,” said Kolisi.</p>

<p>“I remember England went 21 points up, and everybody looked at me under the posts. I said: ‘I have no answers.’ Then I looked at the guy next to me and asked: ‘Do you have something to say?’”</p>

<p>Most of the Springbok players were fairly new in their careers, while Rassie Erasmus and his coaching staff had just one warm-up match against Wales under their belt, and that game had been a loss.</p>

<p>“We were learning a new defensive system, and a lot was going on,” Kolisi said.</p>

<p>“Jacques (Nienaber) was standing under the posts, screaming at us not to stop doing what we were doing. Rassie has known me since I was 18-years old. He knew I would struggle at the beginning, and he put systems in place that allowed me to focus on what I needed to do.</p>

<p>“That 2018 match was a huge learning opportunity for me, and it obviously changed my life,” he said. “Now I’m able to share that with the other guys when they’re in the leadership group as well.”</p>

<p>Kolisi recently turned 35-year old (on June 15), and he says he is still learning, including from the injection of young talent in the greater Bok squad.</p>

<p>“I think it’s the best thing that could have happened to the squad,” said Kolisi.</p>

<p>“Complacency can creep in when there’s nobody there to take your place. That’s not the case with us.</p>

<p>"There are so many guys on the same level. We are competing, but at the same time, we are helping each other because the team comes first.</p>

<p>“When we trained with the Under-20 group, the intensity was really high because they are fearless and they don’t know what the limit is. What we’re seeing from them … Coach Rassie can call on them at any time now if something happens to any of us, and that’s a good thing.</p>

<p>“It’s been amazing to see the standard the Under-20s are working at. Coach Kevin Foote is doing a great job with them.”</p>

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Guardian Sport · Jun 24

Guardian Sport · Jun 24

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