Room for improvement, says Kolisi
THE series might be won, but Springbok captain Siya Kolisi wants more from his team, more intensity and no excuses.
The Springboks have already won the three-test series against England following victories in Joburg and Bloemfontein, and they’ll be looking to make it three-out-of-three at Newlands, Siya’s home ground.
They’ve produced impressive performances and in both Tests Kolisi led his team out of slow starts and into comeback triumphs.
“We want to be better each week. We’ve won the series but we’re not where we want to be yet. We’re also happy that we’re not where we were a couple of months ago.
“We’re always looking to improve, and that’s our motivation. There’s lots to fix, especially the way we started the first two weeks.”
One area where the Boks looked vulnerable was defence. But Kolisi believed that the more the team played together, the more they would gel.
With five changes to the starting line-up, the Stormers skipper is confident the changes won’t disrupt their efforts.
“The team want to finish the series properly and on a winning note. This is the last match for us for another two months (before the Rugby Championship), and we obviously have our team goals.
“There’s a couple of changes to the team, but that won’t impact on our approach or our tactics.
“We want to play with greater intensity. We don’t want to make excuses.”
Kolisi’s game has improved massively since he was appointed Stormers captain last year. Wth the Boks, his contributions have also become more powerful.
He will again form the loose trio with Pieter-steph du Toit at blindside flank and Duane Vermeulen at No 8, and this week – in what has strongly been reported to be the last Test at Newlands – Kolisi wants more of the same from his fellow back-rowers.
Du Toit, who has been a consistent performer for the Stormers this season, carried his Super Rugby form on to the international arena, while Vermeulen has been a standout in the Tests.
“I think it has gone well for us as a loose trio,” he said.