Happy Days Siya Kolisi arrives in Durban with a spring in his step
● He arrived in Durban as an instantly recognisable name and juggernaut of seemingly boundless commercial potential.
It is, however, the mould of rugby player that the Sharks will require Siya Kolisi to fit first and foremost.
“The most important thing for us is what he brings on the field,” said Sharks CEO Eduard Coetzee about the Springbok captain’s much mooted move that came to fruition this past week.
“We will never ever sign a player, not while I'm here, because he has a commercial following. If there is anything else they bring it is a bonus.”
Coetzee however was quick to recognise that it is almost impossible to separate Kolisi the rugby player from what he has come to represent. Talent agency Roc Nation, which represents the team and Kolisi, describes the player as “the new modern face of Africa, with a voice to unite a nation, who offers a new pathway for many”.
Kolisi is a world champion, but perhaps more importantly he champions the cause of those who suffer the hard hand of inequality.
Moreover, he embodies how dreams can vividly be brought to life.
“There is a lot of goodwill that comes with Siya and his name in terms of commercial value,” acknowledged Coetzee. “This guy has given so much to SA rugby. Everyone has taken so much from him.
“He's not going to do commercial stuff for us in the beginning. He’s not going to do a lot of interviews. He’s not captain. We want him to settle and have a proper mini pre-season. Get him mentally and physically rejuvenated and then hit the ground running when he starts playing again.”
Kolisi, from all accounts, arrived in Durban with a spring in his step. Fact is, he is short of a proper gallop and detractors have pointed to his patchy form last season.
“You have to take 2020 in its context for all players,” said Coetzee. “It would be unfair to say Siya has not played well. I think a lot of players haven't played well.
“There is also World Cup hangover. If you are going to have a peak like SA had, the very next season is going to be tough and that season happened to be a Covid season.
“We don’t question his value or his potential. It has been proven time and time again.”
Just how Kolisi will be absorbed into the Sharks team remains to be seen.
There is the perennial debate about whether the No 6 or No 7 jersey best fits his talents.
Coetzee explained the Sharks will need all hands on deck if they play in all the competitions that have been scheduled.
“We only had seven contracted loose forwards and we look for nine. We had two spots to fill in any case.
“As we saw earlier during Covid we have to be fluid and flexible in our selection process and almost everything we do at the moment.”
This guy has given so much to SA rugby
Eduard Coetzee
Sharks CEO