Former Bok captains hail Siya as the best captain

As Siya Kolisi nears yet another milestone, former Springbok captains say he’s the best leader the Boks have ever had.

The inspirational skipper is on the brink on adding his name to the eight Bok centurions and currently stands on 98 Tests – with his 100th likely to come on the five-match tour in November.

Kolisi has led the team to back-to-back Rugby Championship titles to add to two World Cups and a British & Irish Lions series win.

For 1995 World Cup-winning captain Francois Pienaar, it’s a no-brainer that Kolisi is the very best.

“It’s easy,” Pienaar told Rapport. “Siya is the best – his record speaks for itself. Excellent!”

John Smit – who led the Boks to the 2007 World Cup triumph as well as the 2009 British & Irish Lions series and two Tri-Nations titles – says there’s absolutely no question that Kolisi is the most inspirational captain the Boks have ever had.

“It’s fairly simple,” Smit remarked. “Several Rugby Championship trophies, a British & Irish Lions series win, a top-10 winning percentage as captain, consecutive World Cups and almost 100 Tests. Anyone who still argues, is silly.”

Kolisi has captained the Springboks in 66 Tests and boasts a winning percentage of 71.2%. Gary Teichmann – who played 42 Tests for South Africa – boasts a similar win percentage and says Kolisi’s record on and off the field, speaks volumes.

“Siya’s off-the-field contributions have solidified his legacy. He’s shown that there’s always a way. He’s a humble but strong leader that ensures he makes a difference in the lives of many. What a captain!”

Ah, the sacred rite of South African rugby journalism: declare Siya Kolisi a saint every six months, ignore the tape, and quote three ex-captains who apparently live in a nostalgia bunker. Dawie’s post reads less like an analysis and more like a state-sponsored press release... except even propaganda departments usually pretend to use evidence.

"His record speaks for itself."

Yes, it does... but only if you selectively mute the parts where he’s invisible for 79 minutes per Test. Kolisi’s "record" is more a reflection of the pack and the defensive system than any tactical genius from the captain’s armband. If "record" equals "best," then the mascot should get a medal too.

"Back-to-back World Cups."

Let’s not confuse being there with being the reason. By that logic, the team bus driver has two World Cups as well. Kolisi’s personal contribution in both finals could be described as "ambient." He’s the human equivalent of white noise... technically present, acoustically irrelevant.

"Most inspirational captain."

Inspiration is lovely... for Disney movies and church camps. On the field, you need command presence, tactical clarity, and the ability to change a game. Watch him at a breakdown: he hovers like he’s waiting for someone else to do something meaningful. Compare that to McCaw, Schalk, or du Toit when he temporarily wore the armband... actual presence, not photo-op leadership.

"Top-10 winning percentage as captain."

That number flatters him more than a new suit on a scarecrow. The Boks have had world-class scrums, depth across every position, and arguably the best defensive system in rugby the game. You could have given the captaincy to the team physio and they’d still win 7 out of 10.

"Off-the-field contributions."

Yes, Siya’s off-field story is powerful... no one disputes that. But off-field virtue doesn’t ruck, tackle, or call lineouts. Dawie blurs symbolism with skill, as if moral character adds five tackles per match. Kolisi’s a great ambassador; he’s just not a great operator between the white lines.

"He’s humble but strong."

Translation: "He smiles well in interviews." When journalists run out of technical substance, they reach for personality adjectives like a politician clutching talking points. Humility doesn’t win turnovers, and "strength" is meaningless without impact stats to back it up.

"What a captain!"

What a narrative, you mean. The myth of Kolisi has been polished so aggressively that to question it is treated like heresy. But if leadership means being the loudest voice when the pack folds, directing play, and setting tempo, Kolisi’s as quiet as an unplugged mic. He leads in theory; the Boks win in spite of it.

Siya Kolisi isn’t a bad man, just a mediocre player canonised by sentimentalism. The legend was built on optics, not optics meters. Dawie’s post reads like fan fiction wrapped in a press clipping. Until someone actually breaks down his work rate, involvement, and tactical calls frame by frame, calling him “the best Bok captain ever” is like calling a foghorn a soprano: loud, famous, but hopelessly off key.

Not worth the read - all I have to say is FUCK OFF Doos

The sound of someone running out of arguments. Don’t worry Dawie, I’ll translate your response into rugby terms: It’s what happens when you drop the ball under pressure.

No argument dumbfuck - Pienaar, Smit and Teichman vs Doos

Get the picture moron?

Oh yes, the "three names equals argument" tactic... classic. You’re quoting captains like a teenage fan quoting band members. Try analysis next time; hero worship isn’t data.

No dumbfuck - 3 legends vs a complete utter prick who’s grasp of rugby is on par with Rex, my Hereford bull

So crucial…..the Boks were losing in every key WC game when he was subbed. Except against NZ when he was yellow carded for a far worse tackle than Cane, and effectively took himself off the park. And during his time off the field, NZ at even strength were unable to score.

Then he was subbed at minute 73 again….the game in the balance…right when a contributing captain is needed most.

A figurehead and a marginal player

What the fuck do Pienaar, Smit and Teichman know hey - I’m not sure which is worse - Doos or Moffie telling us these 3 legendary Bok captains have no idea what they are talking about

I’m not sure who is more of a worthless cunt - Moffie or Doos - it’s a close call but I’m going to go with Doos as it’s impossible to navigate calm waters with that prize cunt

The usual response…bereft of any facts except prior captains saying the politically correct thing for Bok rugby. And you eat it all up.

"Rex, my Hereford bull"

The open got himself an animal.

We'll never hear the end of it.

Dawie is the court jester at this point.

Totally devoid of anything factual, logical or meaningful and probably had his last actual thought back in the 80s before his brain crystallised into the faulty hot mess displayed on Ruckers every day.

Ah the usual - saying the politically correct thing for SA rugby - bullshit

Fuck off you sad fuck

This is your standard pathetic childish narrative everytime legends of the game have a contrary opinion to your utter ignorance

Grow up you sad fuck

As for my opinion on Kolisi - how many more times do I need to tell you that I rate tte legend as a great player and the best captain we have ever had

The opinions of the rugby greats serve only to confirm what a complete and utter ignorant twat you are

Yep these ex Kapteins are all thriving well under the present regime I guess, wonder why?????

We should run a pole on do we think kwotalisi is worth the hype. You all know my opinion. He is the same class as Moerst, massive media hype propping him up, journalists are romanticising over some club level player and forcing a story. Can’t say he had a hard life, if anything, he had a better life than me. Both his parents taking him to rugby games, got scholarship because he was black and had everything thrown at him. He was a project that couldn’t fail. Politics, media tick, is a decent rugby player tick, but is he a great, he’ll no.

there was Marx and PSDT until last minute leading the boks. He was the captain for the last 40 minutes. Marx are all blooded and just keep going.

who gets the credit, for doing fuck all. Oh it was such a sacrifice to go off in his 100 game. What a fucking joke

PTSD, Marx and Wiese were the only forwards that played until the last minute with the biggest impact.

like so many games before. Fuck off, who are you fooling

You are a stupid prick

Dave

Calm down. The Mr McAllister Who Lives Here had previously had at least a dozen user names and is generally called Card. he always was an idiot.

The fact is that Kolisi was a good captain on and off th e field and Erasmus choice of him as captain was the end constant political interference by the ANC in Springbok rugby. They did massive damage to cricket - but not to rugby.

The fact is that Kolisi aleways was a good loosie when playing for the Stormers - not the best in the world but always doing well enough for the Springboks in winning of 2 RWC in a row with him as captain.

The captain is the public face of the team and what Kolisi did was to make Rugby the lead sport support in the Black community in SA - replacing soccer - and produced many more Black quality players. Those people calling players quota players apparently reject all players other than Whites and call them quota players, I thought we were past that stage and I think some are incurable racists at heart, Lets put it bluntly there are no quota players in he Springbok team,

Politically the ANC represents corrupt and incompetent governance, Trump despised them and would not even sent represnetatives to the G 20 meeting in SA this year, He read them the riot act and he was correct in that. BUT IT IS NOT DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN RUGBY ISSUES WHICH IS A REAL BLESSING. Maybe they realize that interference in rugby is going to cause even bigger losses in support than what happened in the 2024 election.

Ignorance is bliss…

Coming from an idiot supreme this is indeed a complement. .