Kolisi grabs his big chance
Flank celebrates debut in style
MEMBERS of the African Bombers club in Zwide gathered at a tavern to watch local hero Siya Kolisi make his Test debut on Saturday and they didn’t have to wait long to see their favourite son come off the bench.
Kolisi played 77 minutes of the Springboks’ 30-17 win over Scotland at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday after Arno Botha was carried off with knee ligament damage after three minutes.
Kolisi slotted in comfortably and earned the Man-of-the-match award.
Yesterday Kolisi celebrated his 22nd birthday filled with ambitions to force his way into the Springbok starting lineup to face Samoa in Pretoria.
“This is not for me, this is for all the people of the Eastern Cape who have supported me,” Kolisi said after the match.
“Most people in Zwide don’t have televisions at home so they would have gone to taverns to watch. I got a message from the guys at African Bombers, who had their own match today.
“They and their opponents all gathered to watch the Boks and support me after their own game.”
The unfortunate Botha, who had enjoyed a strong Test debut against Italy a week earlier, is likely to be out for the remainder of the season. His misfortune has opened the door for Kolisi to stake a claim for a starting berth in the most competitive position in the Bok squad.
Like his Super Rugby debut in the first game of the 2012 season, Kolisi’s entry to a higher level came earlier than expected. On that occasion Stormers skipper Schalk Burger left the field early in the game and Kolisi replaced him.
He delivered an assured performance and has gone on to be a key member of the Stormers team. On Saturday he gave a similarly composed and strong showing, and if given the chance, should grow comfortably in the Test arena against better opponents.
“I feel bad for Arno and I hope he gets well soon,” Kolisi said.
“They came hard, especially at the breakdown. There is a huge step up from Super Rugby.”
Kolisi was one shining light in an otherwise poor Bok performance.
They battled to come to terms with Scotland’s breakdown nous where flanks Alisdair Strokosch and Ryan Wilson played French referee Romain Poite to perfection.
The Boks were unhappy with the officiating after the game, but the reality was that without a dedicated breakdown specialist they were beaten in that area.
Flank Francois Louw, who married in Durban yesterday, will be hastened back into the lineup at Loftus this week.