OPINION | Kolisi building an impressive Bok legacy

"Phakamani eZwide! [Zwide stand up]. Phakamani eMotherwell! Phakamani eWalmer! Phakamani Kwazakhele. KwaMagxaki nase New Brighton [At Magxaki and New Brighton]! Ngoba lomfana wenu omele umz’ontsundu, umele thina sonke! [Your black son is now here to lead us all]."

It was with these words that SuperSport commentator Kaunda Ntunja introduced Siya Kolisi to the rugby world in his first game as Springbok captain against England at Ellis Park in 2018.

About a year later, Ntunja was once again singing Kolisi’s praises as he indeed led us all to a third Rugby World Cup title in Yokohama, Japan.

Sadly, Ntunja’s voice fell silent as he passed away just over a year ago, but those words would have echoed through the minds of many South Africans when Kolisi raised the trophy after beating the British and Irish Lions 2-1 in an ill-tempered, spiteful series which finished in Cape Town on Saturday last week.

Winning trophies is starting to become a thing for Kolisi. Not bad for a guy whom critics said was not good enough to make the team, let alone captain it.

Slowly but surely, Kolisi has made those doubters eat their words.

And as he grown with success, so has his confidence in his undoubted ability.

He was the perfect leader of a talented but rusty squad against the Lions.

He stood tall and was brave in the face of the illustrious tourists, leading the charge from the front.

Not many captains get to win a World Cup and beat the Lions in a series.

It was Rassie Erasmus who decided to give Kolisi the captaincy three years ago.

There was a double take from the son of the soil of the Eastern Cape when Erasmus announced him as captain in front of his teammates.

But he need not have doubted himself because Erasmus knew exactly who and what was needed to pull the team together as a unit.

Of course, Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber have also formed quite a formidable management combination.

Kolisi was injured when the Boks won the Rugby Championship before the World Cup in 2019.

That was the first of a list of achievements that Erasmus and Nienaber enjoyed before pulling off the even bigger ones with Kolisi at the helm.

The trio will combine again, starting against Argentina in Gqeberha on Saturday as they attempt to become the first SA team to win back-to-back Rugby Championships.

It’s going to be a tough ask starting with a dogged Pumas outfit over consecutive weekends in Nelson Mandela Bay.

Those are the only two home games the team will play in the competition, with their other four matches against Australia and New Zealand to be contested Down Under because of the pandemic.

So the Boks will be at a distinct disadvantage, but adversity is something this new squad under Kolisi thrives on.