‘I Had No Answers’ — Kolisi Reveals The Brutal Moment Under The Ellis Park Posts That Changed His Life Forever
Eight years after captaining the Springboks for the first time, Siya Kolisi will return to Ellis Park to lead South Africa against England in what promises to be an emotional full-circle moment for the boy from Zwide.
Saturday’s Test will mark Kolisi’s first time captaining the Springboks against England at the Johannesburg venue since his historic debut in the role on 9 June 2018, when he became the first black player to captain South Africa.
That memorable occasion was anything but straightforward. England raced into a 24-3 lead inside the opening quarter, threatening to spoil Kolisi’s landmark day before the Springboks mounted a remarkable comeback. South Africa fought back to edge ahead 29-27 by half-time before sealing a thrilling 42-39 victory in a pulsating contest that produced 10 tries.
Reflecting on that unforgettable afternoon, Kolisi admitted the emotions of the occasion affected his performance but said the experience became the foundation of his growth as a leader.
“I remember that. It was an emotional game, but a very tough game. The emotions got the best of me, and I don’t think I was as fit as I could have been. I struggled to play, but the team did well,” said Kolisi.
The two-time Rugby World Cup-winning captain credited the experienced leadership group around him, as well as Rassie Erasmus’ management, for helping him settle into one of the biggest roles in world rugby.
“I had so many great leaders around me, and I think the system that coach Rassie applied at the time really helped me a lot. It has helped me grow and become better, and it made me realise that just because I have the captaincy, not everything is about me,” he said.
Kolisi recalled one defining moment during England’s early dominance when he realised that effective leadership did not mean having all the answers himself.
“That game taught me how to use other people around me. I remember they went up 21-0, and everyone looked at me under the posts. I said I had no answers, looked at the guy next to me, and asked, ‘Do you have something to say?’ The way we fought back was impressive.”
The Springboks were also adapting to a new defensive system under Jacques Nienaber, adding another layer of complexity to an already demanding afternoon.
“We were learning a new defensive system, so a lot was happening with us,” he said.
“Then you had Jacques shouting at us because we weren’t executing the defensive system properly. It was a huge learning opportunity for me, as well as for Coach Rassie.”
Kolisi also praised Erasmus for recognising the challenges he would face as a first-time Test captain and putting structures in place that allowed him to focus on leading the team rather than carrying every responsibility on his shoulders.
“Rassie has known me since I was 18 years old, and he definitely knew that I would struggle in the beginning. He helped me by putting a system in place that allowed me to focus on what I needed to do,” Kolisi added.
“It has really been amazing, and now I can share that with the other guys when they are part of the leadership group. It helped me, and it definitely changed my life.”
As Kolisi prepares to lead the Springboks onto the Ellis Park turf against England once again, he does so not as a captain finding his feet, but as one of the greatest leaders in South African rugby history.
Eight years after that unforgettable afternoon in 2018, the lessons he learned continue to shape the way he leads both on and off the field.
