Cape Town – While Cheslin Kolbe got a proper taste of Super Rugby this year when he featured in all but one of the Stormers’ matches, the Currie Cup still remains a competition dear to his heart.
The Western Province fullback will be participating in his third successive Currie Cup final when he runs out against the Golden Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday.
His passion for the WP jersey is clear to see when you ask him about the final. Said Kolbe: “It’s my third final in a row, and it’s something that I get excited about. Each and every South African rugby player dreams of playing in a Currie Cup final, because it’s the oldest competition in world rugby.
“I said it before, it’s an honour just to represent this jersey, knowing who some of the players are that have worn it. Just to contribute and to leave a legacy in the jersey, and to respect it at the end of the day is my biggest goal.”
Kolbe does have a lot of respect for the man who donned that No15 jersey before he did. In fact, that player, who shares similar traits and who had the Newlands faithful screaming in equal measure during his time in the blue-and-white hoops, is still giving Kolbe advise on a weekly basis.
“The guy that I have looked up to, but is back playing in France at this moment, is Gio Aplon,” Kolbe said.
“I still have lot of contact with him and he still gives me advise. He live streams our games and he will call me on a Sunday night, saying good performance, but you can improve your defence or attack.”
And Aplon has had to give Kolbe some sound advise this year, as defenses have been marking him a lot tighter during this campaign after he ran riot in the previous Currie Cup season.
“I think in your first season no one knows who you are, but going into the second one, it could be the challenge, because teams analyse you and they know what you are doing.
“But you also have to add a dimension, and add something special to your game. If you are not going to have that variety in your play, teams can break you down.
“You have to spice things up,” Kolbe said.
Kolbe scored the first try against the Blue Bulls in the semi-final by running down a Johnny Kotze grubber. He poached the ball in between two Bulls players, before dashing towards the tryline to score.
He then showed good awareness when he took a quick line-out in the Bulls’ 22 to the set up the second.
“In that situation, for my try, I was in two minds; whether I wanted to kick the ball or whether I was going to grab it. When I first went for the ball, I saw Jamba (Ulengo) standing back a bit and I thought ‘no man let me grab the ball and go for the tryline’,” Kolbe said.
“The quick throw in ... It was also the guys being aware of what’s happening and coming up to collect the quick throw in. It was a team effort, and the team did brilliantly at the end”. - The Star