Kolisi relishing his leadership role
CAPTAINS often have a philosophy when it comes to the way the lead their team. But not new Stormers skipper Siya Kolisi – nope, this man just wants to “play for his team and make no excuses”.
One would think that Kolisi, who was named Stormers captain on Tuesday with fellow Springbok and lock Eben Etzebeth as his vice-captain, would be feeling a mountain of pressure as he prepares to lead his side in a season-opening showdown against the Bulls at Newlands tonight (7.30pm).
But the flanker said that he was “excited to get started” against their old rivals at Newlands.
“I don’t like talking a lot. I prefer to save my energy for playing,” he said. “I’m excited and I just want to get going now. There’s been a lot of talking and we’ve been working very hard, so I can’t wait for the season to get started.”
Although Kolisi has no captaincy experience at senior level, the Springbok loose forward said it was Stormers coach Robbie Fleck who urged him to “grow up” and shared that he chose him because of the type of person he is.
And a strong message Kolisi took from that chat is the fact he should not change, not at all.
“I captained a side at U19 level and when I was 16 at school. So I have never been in this position before. So I’m going to be me. The coach told me that’s why he chose me, because I’m me. So hopefully I don’t change. Please let me know if I do change,” he joked.
“I remember at my wedding, coach was there and the day after he told me that I needed to grow up. He said that I had natural leadership abilities. People always see my leadership, even though I don’t see it. My pastor also told me that.”
Kolisi also said the support of Etzebeth has helped him a lot.
“I’m not going to change. I got chosen because of who I am. Me and Eben are in this together. We’ve come a long way and we’ve grown so much closer. When he told me he backed me fully, it put me at ease.”
Any serious rugby fan knows Kolisi has a hard working, playing-to-the-ball style and his ball-carrying abilities are tops, but the 25-year-old says he didn’t think he could get very far in rugby until he reached high school.
“When I was nine years old still living in the township I never thought … only when I got to Grey I started thinking maybe I can make it in rugby. Even at Under-19 level I never thought I’d be a leader,” he said.
Kolisi and Etzebeth are obviously two very different men; one quiet and the other a bit more confrontational on the field (I’ll let you guess which is which). But Kolisi said one thing the two of them have in common is that neither of them like talking a lot.
“I’ll talk when I have to. And Eben doesn’t like talking either. We’re two different guys. I’m much softer than him. He’s going to have to learn that side of me and I’m going to have to learn his. So we’re going to try and meet half way.”
With the battle of the loosies expected to be a big one against the Bulls, Kolisi said the Stormers loose trio were aiming to combat the Bulls’ big forwards with ‘big hits’ to stop their momentum.
“Everybody’s a fetcher nowadays. But we all know our role. We’re going to slow the ball down where we can.”
Kolisi, who has made 16 appearances for the Boks, said although he was fully focused on the Stormers’ success now, he would want to use this opportunity as a springboard to build his international career.
“For now I’m just focusing on the Stormers. But of course I’m thinking about it. We’re not getting any younger. But I just want to do my best with the Stormers and hopefully from there I can make it,” Kolisi said.