When Springbok captain Siya Kolisi leads his team onto the Millenium Stadium pitch in Cardiff on Saturday it will cap an incredible 119-day journey that turned an injury nightmare into a dream of leading the World Champions in their title defence in France.
That Kolisi is able to take the field again after a partial anterior cruciate ligament tear, sustained in the draw against eventual Vodacom United Rugby Champions Munster in Durban on April 22, is something of a medical miracle.
The Bok skipper is the first to admit he had feared the worst when the injury happened and the scans returned, confirming the partial tear to the ligament.
But thanks to a late night decision - one that would change the way he handled the injury in its entirety, a groundbreaking medical procedure by an ex-Free State cricket allrounder, turned doctor and a whole lot of blood, sweat and tears, Kolisi is now looking forward to leading the Boks into battle in France and creating another chapter in the incredible legacy he has already built for himself as Springbok captain.
SCAN BROUGHT SHOCK
Kolisi remembers well that he was “fine” when he left the field and while he knew he was injured, he never feared the worst.
All that changed when he went for the scans two days after the game. The results, when they came, sent a shockwave up his spine.
“I was fine when I went off the field,” he recalls, “But when I went for the scan, and I got the results, I freaked out. I heard it was my ACL.”
The normal procedure for a torn ACL is surgery, followed by intense rehabilitation that often keeps players out of action for between six and nine months, and often longer depending on whether there are setbacks in the recovery process.
But with the World Cup less than six months away, Kolisi was rightly distressed. The dream of leading his side in their defence of the Webb Ellis trophy was under threat. It seemed to be a lost cause.
“I remember going home. I told my wife I don’t think I’m going to make it. She was in tears,” Kolisi recalls.
But a steadfast belief in their faith told them not to give up hope.
It was a moment that would set them on a path that few would have predicted.
The next day Rachel, Kolisi’s wife, called on his supporters to pray with them for a “miracle”.
“Believing for a miracle. Would really appreciate if you could take a minute out your day to pray with us!” Rachel said on Instagram.
“I’ve seen God do it before and believe he will do it again,” adding a quote from James 1:2, 4
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
Kolisi recalls how they decided to pray together and do everything in their power to get him to the showpiece tournament. There was a slim chance, but he would give it his all.
“We prayed a lot. She prayed and said to me she believed we would be fine. I was due to have the operation the next day in Durban,” he recalls.
ENTER DR VAN DER MERWE
But then Kolisi recalled a similar story before the 2019 Rugby World Cup. His teammate and flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit had torn a ligament as well, and had made a miraculous recovery within three months thanks to a groundbreaking procedure in Cape Town.
Du Toit had a tendon transplanted from his father Pieter’s hamstring - and the recovery was so good that he not only recovered in time to play at the World Cup in Japan, but excelled and was awarded World Rugby’s Player of the year award after the tournament.
It seemed like a chance worth taking.
The night before the operation, Kolisi woke up and decided that he would do just that - and phoned the doctor in Durban to call off his operation.
What happened afterwards was a whirlwind of emotions and belief - and a meeting with Dr Willem van der Merwe in Cape Town - a former Free State allrounder who had operated on Du Toit. It was a long shot, but in Kolisi’s mind, one that was definitely worth taking.
“I sent my scan to the doctor, and I said listen, a lot of people said I will be out for a long time,” Kolisi smiles, “but the doctor said to me - come see me, I’ve seen your scans. I’ll give you a chance to make it.
“In the middle of the night I called the doctor in Durban and said I’m not going to do the operation and I flew down to Cape Town. It was Wednesday, and by Friday I was in for the operation. When he finished he came to me and said ‘I fixed you - the rest is up to you’.
“I walked out of the hospital the next day.”
Rachel posted again, saying that after the op, they “still believed in a miracle.”
“By Gods beautiful grace we made it!” she posted with a photo of Siya and his family at his hospital bed.
“I can’t thank you all enough for every bit of love and support but above everything the prayers 🥹❤️ Forever in awe of @siyakolisi and his ability to face challenges head on, and with such a positive attitude. Still believing for a miracle.”
SIYA’S POSITIVITY
But if there was ever anything that was a massive part of Siya’s recovery, it was the positivity that he showed when he started the recovery process.
The Bok captain was given the support he needed by the team management, with coach Jacques Nienaber making it abundantly clear that Kolisi would be going to the World Cup - in whatever form it eventually would take.
“We’ve been through this before and we know that Siya can play at a World Cup and do a good job of leading the team as that was what happened in 2019,” Nienaber said.
Rassie Erasmus chimed in, as if it wasn’t already clear how highly Kolisi was rated by the coaching squad.
“He’s our captain, that’s why we are doing this. Even if he misses the first game against Scotland.”
But it wasn’t as easy for Kolisi, who had to endure long hours and painful times in working his way back from the injury. Often behind closed doors, often without the support of the masses.
Alone he struggled on, with the aid of his medical staff and family, but as determined as ever to make the plane to France.
He admitted as well that he struggled with the initial process, as there were times that the doubt consumed him in his recovery process.
“After my injury and surgery, I struggled with doubts, had many questions, and my peace was unsettled. Negative thoughts threatened to consume me because my focus was on the problem. A shift came in me when I realised that in times of uncertainty, it is important to keep my gaze on the things that are unchanging. I’ve been intentionally keeping my focus on God, the one who is in control. I’ve learnt to trust that this is a time of pruning, shaping me to be stronger and more resilient.
“I still have tough moments on this journey, but I embrace the future, full of potential and hope, focusing on what truly matters,” he said in an instagram post just after the recovery started.
HARD WORK PAYS OFF
The hard work paid off and Kolisi “hit his markers” at the Springbok camp - often better than expected - as the positivity started to pay off.
This week Nienaber admitted that Kolisi had surprised them all with how he made the targets with ease to get back into the selection frame.
"Whenever there is an injury, you are never 100 per cent sure, you have certain markers over time, and he was hitting them consistently and sometimes a little bit quicker than we expected," Nienaber said.
"Those markers are objective, does he have full range of movement, does he have full extension, does he have this, does he have that?
"The moment he hits all these markers he can progress to the next stage. In the beginning, you are not sure. A setback can come and then you have to pull back a bit and then you have to wait until it settles down and then he can push again. I don't think he had one setback in all the markers."
Nienaber added that Kolisi could turn to others - presumably Du Toit - for guidance when things got tough.
“Siya has shown what can be achieved by old-fashioned hard work. He has been totally dedicated to getting fit to lead his country.
“He was fortunate in the sense that a host of guys in the squad have been through the same rehab from knee injuries and he was able to bounce things off those guys as he went through the different phases. It reassured him if he was told by these guys that they had similar sensations in the knee at the same stage.”
SACRIFICE BRINGS BOK JOY
Nienaber was overjoyed at having Kolisi back for the Wales game, and now is looking forward to Kolisi putting in the hard yards to be in top form for the opening game of the World Cup.
"It is awesome having him back," said the head coach.
"He had been part of the team for quite some time, it is not like he was out. He did his rehab with us and was with us the majority of the time.
"Although he did his own rehab stuff on the side, he was part of the team sessions and although he is only on the field now, he was part of the team from the start. It's nice to have hit back and playing again because he has worked hard and he really deserves it.
"Siya has put a lot of effort and sacrifice in to be ready now. It's a reward for him to be ready to get an opportunity to play and it is nice for the team to have him back because he has been an integral part of this team over the last six years that we have been together.
"It will be nice to give him some game exposure over the next couple of games to make sure he is battle-hardened and ready and sharp when we go into the World Cup and into that same against Scotland."
The final word goes to Kolisi himself, who knows the last 119 days have been something exceptional, and something he is most grateful for. The belief has paid off, the hope and prayers have paid off.
The difference between April and August is remarkable. Unexpected, miraculous even, but definitely remarkable
“Since the operation I’ve just believed, I’ve been praying hard and I’ve been blessed that I’ve healed really well. The physios called and told me they have never seen anything like it. Pieter did it - he got the tendon from his father.
“Next week if I play it will be four months on the dot. It’s amazing.”