Kolisi raring to go in new role as Stormers captain

Loose forward Siya Kolisi has been appointed as captain of the DHL Stormers in 2017. Photo: File

Loose forward Siya Kolisi has been appointed as captain of the DHL Stormers in 2017. Photo: File

Published Feb 25, 2017

Share

CAPE TOWN - Captains often have a philosophy when it comes to the way the lead their team. But not new Stormers skipper Siya Kolisi - nope, this man just wants to “play for his team and make no excuses”.

One would think Kolisi, who was named Stormers captain on Tuesday with fellow Springbok and lock Eben Etzebeth as his vice-captain, would be feeling a mountain of pressure as he prepares to lead his side in a massive season-opening showdown against the Bulls tonight.

But the flanker said he was “excited to get started” against their old rivals at Newlands.

“I just want to play. I just want to play for the team and make no excuses. I don’t like talking a lot. I prefer to save my energy for playing.

“I’m excited and I just want to get going now. There’s been a lot of talking and we’ve been working very hard, so I can’t wait for the season to get started.”

Although Kolisi has no captaincy experience at senior level, the Springbok loose forward said it was Stormers coach Robbie Fleck who urged him to “grow up” and shared that he chose him because of the type of person he is.

And a strong message Kolisi took from that chat is the fact he should not change, not at all.

“I captained a side at U19 level and when I was 16 at school. I have never been in this position before. So I’m going to be me.

“The coach told me that’s why he chose me, because I’m me. So hopefully I don’t change. Please let me know if I do change,” he joked.

“I remember at my wedding, coach was there and the day after he told me I needed to grow up. He said I had natural leadership abilities and I needed to grow up now. People always see my leadership even though I don’t see it. My pastor also told me that.”

Kolisi said the support of Etzebeth has helped him a lot.

“I’m not going to change. I got chosen because of who I am. Me and Eben are in this together.

“We’ve come a long way and we’ve grown so much closer. When he told me he backed me fully it put me at ease.”

Any serious rugby fan knows Kolisi has a hard working, playing-to-the-ball style and his ball-carrying abilities are tops, but the 25-year-old says he didn’t think he could get very far in rugby until he reached high school.

“When I was nine years old still living in the township I never thought only when I got to Grey did I start thinking maybe I can make it in rugby. Even at Under-19 level I never thought I’d be a leader,” he said.

Kolisi and Etzebeth are obviously two very different men; one quiet and the other a bit more confrontational on the field (I’ll let you guess which is which). But Kolisi said one thing the two of them have in common is the fact neither of them like talking a lot on the field.

“I’ll talk when I have to. And Eben doesn’t like talking a lot either. We’re two different guys. I’m much softer than him. He’s going to have to learn that side of me and I’m going to have to learn his. So we’re going to try and meet half way.”

With the battle of the loosies expected to be a big one against the Bulls, Kolisi said that the Stormers loose trio were aiming to combat the Bulls’ big loose forwards with “big hits” to stop their momentum.

Teams for Newlands:

Stormers: 15 SP Marais, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Siya Kolisi (captain), 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.

Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Dewaldt Duvenage, 22 Dan Kriel, 23 Robert du Preez

Bulls: 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Travis Ismaiel, 10 Handre Pollard (captain), 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Nick de Jager, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Pierre Schoeman.

Referee: Jaco van Heerden

Kickoff: 7.30pm

The Weekend Argus

Related Topics: