By Adnaan Mohamed
On the night Siya Kolisi reached his century of Tests, the Springbok captain reminded the rugby world that leadership isn’t only about charging into tackles, but sometimes it’s about stepping back for the team.
Up against a fired-up French side, a cauldron of 80,000 roaring fans at Stade de France, and a hotly debated red card to lock Lood de Jager, the world champions could easily have cracked.
Instead, they dug deep, showing the kind of grit that has become as familiar to South Africans as the green and gold itself.
The Boks turned pressure into purpose, clawing their way to a 32–17 win that felt more like a statement than a scoreline.
When halftime arrived, the coaches faced a brutal call that resulted in Kolisi’s 100th Test ending early. The team needed to reshuffle, and the captain had to make way for tactical balance. His response was pure Siya.
“To take our captain off in his 100th match because we had to put Andre [Esterhuizen] on to play loose forward and centre, depending on whether we had a scrum or a line-out, was a tough call,” said coach Rassie Erasmus.
“But when we said it to him, he just took it on the chin and understood. Same with Damian de Allende, who was playing really well, but we had to sub him so Andre could play both in the scrums and the backline.”
Kolisi’s calm acceptance rippled through the team like a silent war cry.
“The impact Siya made from the bench was when the whole team saw the moment he was told he wasn’t going to play the second half, and he said he totally understands,” Erasmus added.
“That impact is enough. Then the other players say, ‘Our captain, who has played 100 games, is willing not to go in the second half for the team to win.’ That impact is enough.”
It was a reminder that Kolisi doesn’t just wear the armband, he embodies the Springbok creed: team before self, always.
Erasmus also tipped his hat to the brains trust behind the victory, the Bok assistant coaches who helped rewrite the game plan on the fly.
“The bench had a good impact, but it’s the plans the coaches made at half-time that made it easier for the guys that went on,” he said.
“The defence coach, attack coach, Duane [Vermeulen] with the breakdowns, Deon [Davids] with the line-outs, Daan [Human] the scrums, and Tony [Brown] the attack.
“I take very little credit. This bunch of players and a lot of people said they are getting old, they are wiser and calmer under pressure.”
Even with the crowd roaring like a Parisian thunderstorm, the Boks never lost their composure.
“Playing here, and the French can be so proud of their supporters, but for us it was intimidating,” Erasmus admitted.
“But luckily, we’ve been through this before in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023. The experience showed at half-time, making plans, staying calm, sacrificing for the team.”
Kolisi may have played only 40 minutes, but his presence was felt for all 80. From the moment he stepped off the field, he became the team’s heartbeat on the sideline, steady, selfless, and still leading every ruck and run from afar.
His 100th Test wasn’t only about glory. It was about grace, the kind that wins not just games, but hearts.
