Siya Kolisi promises to give it “all he can for as long as he can” when the inspirational Springbok captain makes his first Test appearance of 2023 on Saturday.
Kolisi will lead the world champions in the World Cup warm-up match against Wales in Cardiff, 119 days after the loose forward went under the knife on a knee injury that was initially predicted to keep him out of the showpiece tournament.
He is part of an experienced lineup for the clash at the Principality Stadium as head coach Jacques Nienaber looks to start building cohesiveness within his squad for the World Cup, which kicks off in France on Friday, 8 September.
Speaking in a Bok teleconference with assistant coach Mzwandile Stick from Wales on Friday, Kolisi told reporters: “For me, I just want to play. I want to give it everything. I was told by the coaches I must give everything I can, for as long as I can and then they’ll take me off, whether it’s early in the first half or half time or after half time or for as long as I can last.
“I’m just grateful to be here, and thankful to our medical team … and Andy [Edwards, Bok conditioning coach], they’ve all been working with me at different hours to try and not interfere with what the rest of the team was doing. And also the team at the Sharks, it’s really been a team effort.”
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Kolisi initially feared he would miss the Boks’ defence of the Webb Ellis Cup, and Nienaber has hailed the 31-year-old for his “old-fashioned hard work” in recovering in time to make it onto the field before the World Cup.
“I had a lot of doubts but she [wife Rachel] just prayed, and then also the specialists … from the day they saw my scans they told me this [a comeback] was possible,” Kolisi said.
“And guys like RG [Snyman] Handre [Pollard], Pieter-Steph [du Toit] who’ve been through this operation before, it was really lifting to have them by side, talking to me and when I’m feeling something weird they’re like, ‘no, it’s OK’. And obviously coach Jacques and Rassie [Erasmus], in believing in me and giving me the opportunity.
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“Now all I can do is go out tomorrow [Saturday] and give it all I can for as long as I can, and that’s been my way of saying thank you for the backing and all the hard work that everyone has put in.
“I had to believe in powers far stronger than me, because there’s no way I could justify or explain how I was healing so quickly. Even some of the medical team did say this is not normal.
“Everyone that’s worked on my knee we’ve given everything in our power to get to this point … I’m not walking in fear, I’m walking in confidence because I feel good.”
Stick added: “It’s been a tough couple of months for Siya but I have to compliment him on the way he has handled his injury. I know the sacrifices he has made as a player and as a human being.
“He’s a family man … and I saw him going up and down between Durban and Cape Town when he was going through his rehab. I know in a couple of years Siya will tell his story about the way he has been handling himself off the field, it’s been massive.
“For a young man, sacrificing time away from his kids, it shows the character of the man, and it’s good to see him back.”
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix