Cape Town - Siya Kolisi should’ve made his Springbok debut in 2012, but had to wait another year to come off the bench for his country.
In fact, he still hasn’t started at international level, but Allister Coetzee has made sure that the situation will change when Kolisi runs out with the No 7 jersey in Saturday’s first Test against Ireland at Newlands.
It is fitting that Kolisi will make his first Test start on his home ground after 13 appearances off the bench, in his preferred position as well after years of having to try to play a fetcher role at openside flank.
The Grey PE product, who will turn 25 on Youth Day (June 16), is at his barnstorming best when he is running with ball-in-hand or drilling the opposition into the ground around the fringes, and that is what he hopes to do on Saturday.
“I’m very chuffed, very happy. All the hard work has paid off. It’s going to be tough on Saturday, but I’m really looking forward to it. It does feel like a first Test again, and it’s been a good year for me injury-wise. The past couple of years haven’t been great, so I’m very excited for Saturday,” Kolisi said this week.
“I’ve always preferred playing there (at blindside flank) before, and I’m very happy that the coach is backing me there as that is where I’ve been playing this year. I’ve just worked hard and get back to what I used to do in my first season – making big hits and big tackles, and running with the ball-in-hand, and not so much on the things that I’m not so good at.
“I have to get the go-forward for the team. I’ve got to do everything to put us on the front foot, and I’m going to use my feet, not just go straight and run over guys. I’ve always had the footwork at school, but when you are not having a good season, you kind of lose your confidence and forget the stuff that you are good at.
“But when I focused on myself, I started to get it back again. I know I’m not the biggest guy out there, and I will have to come up with something different.”
His former Stormers mentor Coetzee knows Kolisi’s strengths inside-out, and wants to see the Bok No 7 have a relentless work-rate against a strong Irish loose trio of CJ Stander, Jordi Murphy and experienced No 8 Jamie Heaslip.
“I’m happy with Siya’s performance in Super Rugby as well. What I’m looking for is for him to keep carrying like he did. He’s renowned as a strong ball-carrier, and he’s a top-notch defender. He must make sure he protects that gain-line and stop people behind that gain-line, and just come up with a work-rate that is second to none,” the Bok mentor said.
“If he has to play towards the ball, he should show that. If he has to carry, and even be an option in the lineout, he’s got to do that. It’s not just to play what’s perceived to be your role, but it’s to come with triple and double actions which will pick up your work-rate and put in a hell of a performance.”
Kolisi’s direct opponent will be former Bulls star Stander, who made his Irish debut in the Six Nations this year. Stander is sure to be targeted by the Boks, and it promises to be an explosive showdown against Kolisi.
But asked if there will be a special welcome for Stander, Kolisi didn’t fall for the bait: “No, nothing special! It’s always good to play against him – I played against him during high school and with him since then. So, it’s going to be good to play against him again.”
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