Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will play in his 100th test this weekend against France in Paris, and has well captured the hearts and minds of South Africans, often being referred to as the greatest captain ever for the national rugby team.
But across the years there have been so many moments, so many clips of the inspirational captain that it is hard to bring them all together as one.
So here are 10 memorable moments that underline just what a treasure he is for South Africa, for the Springboks and the rugby world at large.
South Africa’s first black test captain
On 28 May 2018, South African rugby’s last glass ceiling was shattered. Siya Kolisi ran onto the Ellis Park pitch against England to start a legacy that will be spoken about for generations.
Wearing the iconic No 6 jersey - the same number that Nelson Mandela famously wore for the World Cup final to support the Springboks at the same venue in 1995 - Kolisi fulfilled a dream for the former State President and started a new chapter for a team that hit the lowest of lows in 2017.
Accompanied by the iconic commentary in Xhosa by the late Kaunda Ntunja, Kolisi’s appearance on the field was captured in Chasing the Sun, the award winning SuperSport documentary after the 2019 World Cup and is still a moment that gives goosebumps to many rugby supporters across the country.
Lifting the World Cup in 2019 in Japan
If his first test as captain was inspirational, the iconic moment of leading South Africa to glory at the Rugby World Cup in Japan must be a close second. It was a moment of joy and celebration - a moment when Kolisi became the first black captain to lift the Webb Ellis Trophy and sparked celebrations among the entire country.
It came after a pool loss to New Zealand, a tense semifinal against Wales and a final where Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin Kolbe scored the first tries ever for a Springbok side in a World Cup final - 2007 and 1995 were try-less games for SA.
Given where the Springboks were 18 months before, after a 57-0 loss to the All Blacks, this was one of the most amazing turnarounds for any sporting side and showed how well the Boks had done as a unit playing for the entire country.
Doing it away from home and under pressure was a magical South African sporting moment indeed.
Winning Back to Back World Cups
This one goes without saying, because only one side has done it before. But Kolisi, who had to struggle back from a career-threatening injury just to make the side for the tournament, and who underwent groundbreaking surgery to be ready, led the team in one of the most remarkable tournament wins ever in France.
From their loss to Ireland and bouncing back to one-point wins in their quarterfinal, semifinal and final against France, England and New Zealand respectively, Kolisi and the Springboks cemented their moment as one of the greatest sides ever to play the game.
Their determination, the guts and passion that they showed and their poise through it all was down to a number of factors, but couldn’t be what it was without Kolisi’s leadership.
Man of the match on his debut
From the time Siya Kolisi donned a Western Province and Stormers jersey, it was clear he was an exceptional find. But when he made his debut in Mbombela in 2013, coming on as a substitute, there was a buzz in the air. Kolisi was on early because of an injury and Scotland were on top early, but through his exceptional work rate, some big tackles and a lot of heart he made an almost immediate impression, easily winning the man of the match award in a 30-17 victory.
Leading South Africa to a test series win over the British and Irish Lions.
The series was overshadowed by the video of Rassie Erasmus talking about Nick Berry’s performance in the first test, and by Covid protocols that meant no fans would be at the games, but despite all of that, and Berry ignoring Kolisi as captain in the first game, the Bok skipper held his head high.
Despite the setback of losing the first test, Kolisi led a fired up Bok team to a second test victory and clinched the series in a dramatic third test when Morne Steyn kicked the winning penalty. So much has been said and written about that series but few have spoken about the exceptional way that Kolisi led the side in battle.
Being named in Time Magazine’s most influential people list in 2024
Siya Kolisi the icon was named in Time Magazine’s most influential people list in 2024, a massive honour and an acknowledgement of how far his influence spans beyond the rugby field.
Kolisi is a global ambassador, a massive favourite around the world and a shining example of what South Africa can give the world.
Siya Kolisi has been named on TIME Magazine's TIME100 list for 2024 in the 'Innovators' category 🇿🇦👏 pic.twitter.com/3dscxVMnsk
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) April 17, 2024
Starting the Kolisi Foundation
Off the field, Kolisi started the Kolisi Foundation in 2020, as a response to some of the off-field work he does in trying to uplift communities. The Kolisi Foundation addresses food security and gender-based issues, especially given Siya’s background and upbringing. It has brought hope and joy across the country and tackles tough projects with corporate backing.
Emotional post match interviews
Siya is a player who often wears his heart on his sleeve. Known for his emotional post match interviews, his raw honesty and a wicked sense of humour, he has been an exceptional ambassador for the Springboks and will continue to lead them with pride.