Siya Kolisi, the Springbok captain, looked utterly gutted after a jaw-dropping meltdown against the Wallabies at Ellis Park. What started as a commanding 22-point lead evaporated into thin air as the Australians, with lungs seemingly filled with nothing but sheer determination, mounted a comeback that will haunt the Boks for a while. They scored six tries, leaving the high-altitude crowd both breathless and bewildered, and snatched a 38-22 victory that left the hosts reeling.
Post-match, with the dust still settling and the Ellis Park crowd still scratching their heads, Kolisi was candid in his interview with SuperSport.
"We let ourselves down today. They definitely won the breakdown battle – congratulations to Fraser McReight for getting Man of the Match tonight. Ja, we let ourselves down and we have to take that on the chin. It’s unacceptable the way we performed. To start like that and to take your foot off the pedal – it’s just unacceptable from us."
The disappointment was palpable in his voice, the frustration clear in his eyes.
Kolisi didn’t shy away from giving the devils their due, acknowledging the relentless spirit of the Australian squad. "Credit to the Australian team. They played really well, they kept on fighting, they never gave up even though they went behind, so well done to them. We’re not proud of the performance we did today." It was a tribute marked with respect, despite the sting of defeat.
Looking ahead, the Springboks don't have the luxury of wallowing in their sorrow, with a rematch on the horizon in Cape Town. Kolisi made it clear that it’s all about resilience from here on out. "We’re going to lift ourselves up and go next week and fight. There’s not much else we can do." It's clear that for Kolisi and his team, the only way from here is up, with no time to sulk but plenty to prove.
The Ellis Park encounter was a stark reminder of the merciless nature of top-tier rugby: one moment you're flying high, the next you're brought back to earth. For the Boks, it's back to the drawing board, with hopes of turning their fortunes around in front of a home crowd thirsty for redemption.
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Siya Kolisi, the Springbok captain, looked utterly gutted after a jaw-dropping meltdown against the Wallabies at Ellis Park. What started as a commanding 22-point lead evaporated into thin air as the Australians, with lungs seemingly filled with nothing but sheer determination, mounted a comeback that will haunt the Boks for a while. They scored six tries, leaving the high-altitude crowd both breathless and bewildered, and snatched a 38-22 victory that left the hosts reeling.
Post-match, with the dust still settling and the Ellis Park crowd still scratching their heads, Kolisi was candid in his interview with SuperSport.
"We let ourselves down today. They definitely won the breakdown battle – congratulations to Fraser McReight for getting Man of the Match tonight. Ja, we let ourselves down and we have to take that on the chin. It’s unacceptable the way we performed. To start like that and to take your foot off the pedal – it’s just unacceptable from us."
The disappointment was palpable in his voice, the frustration clear in his eyes.Kolisi didn’t shy away from giving the devils their due, acknowledging the relentless spirit of the Australian squad. "Credit to the Australian team. They played really well, they kept on fighting, they never gave up even though they went behind, so well done to them. We’re not proud of the performance we did today." It was a tribute marked with respect, despite the sting of defeat.
Looking ahead, the Springboks don't have the luxury of wallowing in their sorrow, with a rematch on the horizon in Cape Town. Kolisi made it clear that it’s all about resilience from here on out. "We’re going to lift ourselves up and go next week and fight. There’s not much else we can do." It's clear that for Kolisi and his team, the only way from here is up, with no time to sulk but plenty to prove.
The Ellis Park encounter was a stark reminder of the merciless nature of top-tier rugby: one moment you're flying high, the next you're brought back to earth. For the Boks, it's back to the drawing board, with hopes of turning their fortunes around in front of a home crowd thirsty for redemption.