Siya Kolisi, the charismatic leader of the Springboks, has credited the mental alchemy performed by coach Rassie Erasmus for transforming the team into consecutive Rugby Championship victors. After a nail-biting 29-27 triumph over Argentina at Twickenham, which catapulted them ahead of the All Blacks by points difference, Kolisi opened up about the squad's journey from an initial stumble to standing tall on the winner's podium.
It all began with a less-than-stellar start against the Wallabies at Ellis Park, where the Boks faced an unexpected defeat. "After the way we started, you would not have said we would be here now," Kolisi reflected. The turnaround, according to him, stems from a rock-solid belief system instilled by Erasmus.
"The mindset he has created means you don’t feel in any moment that you are going to lose,”
Kolisi explained, highlighting the psychological edge that Erasmus brought to the table.
The finals against Argentina were anything but a walk in the park. The Pumas set a high bar right from kickoff, testing the Boks' resolve. Despite not playing a flawless game, the response from the team was fierce. "It was a tough game today. Credit to Argentina, we knew they were going to set the standard from the beginning. I’m so proud of our boys. It wasn’t the perfect game, but it is the fight we show each and every week," Kolisi praised his team's resilience.
Kolisi also shed light on the pivotal role of the bench, whose players provided crucial momentum swings during the match. "It doesn’t always go the way we want it to go, but we are always able to find that second gear. With the bench that we have, they are special," he said, acknowledging the depth of talent in the squad.
More than just a game, Kolisi views each victory as an opportunity to uplift spirits back home. "Our wins don’t make a huge difference, but if we can make people feel good, even for a moment, we take that with us. No matter where you are from, you are represented by this team," he concluded, underlining the broader social impact of their success on the field.
The Springboks' journey under Erasmus's guidance not only secured them the championship but also reinforced their identity as fighters, capable of turning the tide when the chips are down. Their saga continues to inspire, proving that with belief and resilience, champions can indeed defend their legacy.
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Siya Kolisi, the charismatic leader of the Springboks, has credited the mental alchemy performed by coach Rassie Erasmus for transforming the team into consecutive Rugby Championship victors. After a nail-biting 29-27 triumph over Argentina at Twickenham, which catapulted them ahead of the All Blacks by points difference, Kolisi opened up about the squad's journey from an initial stumble to standing tall on the winner's podium.
It all began with a less-than-stellar start against the Wallabies at Ellis Park, where the Boks faced an unexpected defeat. "After the way we started, you would not have said we would be here now," Kolisi reflected. The turnaround, according to him, stems from a rock-solid belief system instilled by Erasmus.
"The mindset he has created means you don’t feel in any moment that you are going to lose,”
Kolisi explained, highlighting the psychological edge that Erasmus brought to the table.The finals against Argentina were anything but a walk in the park. The Pumas set a high bar right from kickoff, testing the Boks' resolve. Despite not playing a flawless game, the response from the team was fierce. "It was a tough game today. Credit to Argentina, we knew they were going to set the standard from the beginning. I’m so proud of our boys. It wasn’t the perfect game, but it is the fight we show each and every week," Kolisi praised his team's resilience.
Kolisi also shed light on the pivotal role of the bench, whose players provided crucial momentum swings during the match. "It doesn’t always go the way we want it to go, but we are always able to find that second gear. With the bench that we have, they are special," he said, acknowledging the depth of talent in the squad.
More than just a game, Kolisi views each victory as an opportunity to uplift spirits back home. "Our wins don’t make a huge difference, but if we can make people feel good, even for a moment, we take that with us. No matter where you are from, you are represented by this team," he concluded, underlining the broader social impact of their success on the field.
The Springboks' journey under Erasmus's guidance not only secured them the championship but also reinforced their identity as fighters, capable of turning the tide when the chips are down. Their saga continues to inspire, proving that with belief and resilience, champions can indeed defend their legacy.