Cheslin Kolbe, the veteran winger, led a youthful Springbok backline to a historic triumph over New Zealand, as South Africa clinched the Freedom Cup with a staggering 43-10 victory in Wellington. This marked the Springboks' largest-ever win against the All Blacks, a feat that has sent shockwaves through the rugby world.
Kolbe, who crossed the try line twice in the match, was effusive in his praise for the young guns. “Immensely proud! Obviously when the team was announced with a young backline and me being one of the older guys, I think it’s just a lot of positive energy and guys that show they mean business and that they also want to fight for a position in the team,” he said. His leadership and experience were pivotal in maintaining team morale and confidence.
"We played fearlessly"
The victory was even sweeter following a narrow defeat at Eden Park the week before. “Obviously we would’ve wanted to win last week, but God had different plans. It was a special night for us [in Wellington] and to take the Freedom Cup back to South Africa – it’s special. It means a lot to us as a team and as a country. I think we owed ourselves a big performance and everyone just did their best and sacrificed for the team,” Kolbe reflected on the significance of the rebound win.
Looking forward, the flyer emphasized the importance of staying focused. “The hopes are there, but we just need to take it training by training, game by game and just remain humble and continue to put in the hard work.” He highlighted the upcoming challenges, particularly against a robust Argentine side. “Argentina’s playing great rugby and it’s always a physical battle against them. Test rugby is all about being disciplined, being clinical and playing on the right side of the field. I’m sure it’s going to be a good challenge against them,” he predicted.
"Rassie hails Bok belief after record win"
The Springboks are now setting their sights on defending their Rugby Championship title, with a grounded approach but a firm belief in their capabilities and the leadership of veterans like Kolbe. The team's next encounters against Argentina at Kings Park and Twickenham are anticipated to be as thrilling as their historic clash in Wellington.
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Cheslin Kolbe, the veteran winger, led a youthful Springbok backline to a historic triumph over New Zealand, as South Africa clinched the Freedom Cup with a staggering 43-10 victory in Wellington. This marked the Springboks' largest-ever win against the All Blacks, a feat that has sent shockwaves through the rugby world.
Kolbe, who crossed the try line twice in the match, was effusive in his praise for the young guns. “Immensely proud! Obviously when the team was announced with a young backline and me being one of the older guys, I think it’s just a lot of positive energy and guys that show they mean business and that they also want to fight for a position in the team,” he said. His leadership and experience were pivotal in maintaining team morale and confidence.
"We played fearlessly"
The victory was even sweeter following a narrow defeat at Eden Park the week before. “Obviously we would’ve wanted to win last week, but God had different plans. It was a special night for us [in Wellington] and to take the Freedom Cup back to South Africa – it’s special. It means a lot to us as a team and as a country. I think we owed ourselves a big performance and everyone just did their best and sacrificed for the team,” Kolbe reflected on the significance of the rebound win.
Looking forward, the flyer emphasized the importance of staying focused. “The hopes are there, but we just need to take it training by training, game by game and just remain humble and continue to put in the hard work.” He highlighted the upcoming challenges, particularly against a robust Argentine side. “Argentina’s playing great rugby and it’s always a physical battle against them. Test rugby is all about being disciplined, being clinical and playing on the right side of the field. I’m sure it’s going to be a good challenge against them,” he predicted.
"Rassie hails Bok belief after record win"
The Springboks are now setting their sights on defending their Rugby Championship title, with a grounded approach but a firm belief in their capabilities and the leadership of veterans like Kolbe. The team's next encounters against Argentina at Kings Park and Twickenham are anticipated to be as thrilling as their historic clash in Wellington.