South Africa’s Rugby World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi proved exactly why he leads the Springboks after their victory over New Zealand.
Many of the Springboks’ players went to their knees in joyful celebration as they managed to hold onto their lead and guarantee that they would win the World Cup for a record-tying fourth time. Captain Kolisi, on the other hand, adopted a different strategy and raced to the touchline as soon as he heard the full-time whistle.
His focus was on Kolbe, who had transformed from hopelessness to exultation. And as he assured his teammate that he had not let the Springboks down, Kolisi ran over to embrace the winger who had been singed. Kolisi’s leadership was evident in their embrace as they instantly considered the player who might have been experiencing conflicting emotions following the game.
Kolisi has been the perfect ambassador for South African rugby throughout the World Cup and led by example on and off the field. The 32-year-old flanker could be seen regularly belting out the national anthem before matches with such passion that his pride was infectious, once again showcasing that his leadership credentials cannot be questioned.
When asked how his team managed to hold on and claim victory over New Zealand, Kolisi said: “We had to. We lost our hooker [Bongi Mbonambi] in the early part of the game and we had to adjust to that. They put a lot of
pressure on our lineouts, but we managed to make it work.
“Those who are not native to South Africa are unaware of the implications for our nation. It goes beyond just the game. Our nation experiences so much.
“All we can say is that we’re thankful to be here. I want to express my gratitude to the people of South Africa.
“This group merely demonstrates your abilities. When we collaborate, anything is possible in any setting—offices or the field—and it demonstrates our collective strength. This team has my gratitude and my utmost pride.
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Springboks vs New Zealand: This is how relaxed the Bokke were before the final
The Rugby World Cup final saw the Springboks vs New Zealand. A video of the Springboks’ final training session shows how relaxed they were.
he 2023 Rugby World Cup final saw the Springboks vs New Zealand in Paris on Saturday, 28 October. The heavyweight clash between the two most successful teams in the tournaments ultimately went the way of South Africa with a final score of 12-11.
The Springboks became the first team to win the Webb Ellis trophy four times and captain Siya Kolisi held the trophy aloft for the second time after beating England 32-12 in Japan in 2019.
SPRINBOKS VS NEW ZEALAND IS WORLD RUGBY’S FIERCEST RIVALRY
Despite the fact that millions of South Africans were anxious about the Springboks vs. New Zealand match, video from the team’s last practise shows the players joking and laughing with one another.
A video that RugbyPass uploaded to YouTube depicts the Springboks’ last practice prior to their Rugby World Cup matchup with New Zealand.
While they stretched, Captain Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth joked with each other, and the Springboks’ backroom staff appeared to be in a good mood as well.
