Cheslin Kolbe, the dynamic Springbok winger, celebrated his 50th Test cap with a standout performance that included a mesmerizing try and five successful conversions as South Africa triumphed over England 45-21 in the Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park. Following a dazzling display against the Barbarians earlier in the season, Kolbe continued his impressive form with the boot, making his love for this aspect of his game abundantly clear.
Kolbe's journey with goal-kicking stretches back to his school days. "Kicking for posts is something I enjoy; I have been doing it since primary school," he noted, reflecting on his recent stint in Japan where he honed this skill further. Despite a shaky start against England, missing two early attempts, Kolbe recalibrated and successfully converted his subsequent four kicks. "At this level, every point counts, and after missing those two kicks it was about staying in my routine and trusting my process," he explained.
"It has not been an easy road, but I would not want it any other way,"
The significance of his 50th cap was heightened by sharing this milestone with teammate Damian Willemse. Kolbe reminisced about his smaller stature in his youth and the challenges it brought, leading up to his Bok debut in 2018 under the guidance of Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber. "As a kid, playing for the Boks is something you dream of; you look up to guys like Eben [Etzebeth] who got to 50, to 100 and then to the record for the Boks. I am just super grateful for the coaches that believed in me, gave me the opportunities and backed me," Kolbe added.
The match against England showcased the resilience of the Springboks, especially after the English side narrowed the score to a three-point gap by halftime. Kolbe praised his team's ability to regain control, "In the first half, they showed that they are a team that doesn’t go away. They dominated in the last 20 minutes of that half. The boys responded really well in the second half by sticking to our game plan and staying on top of them."
Looking ahead, Kolbe emphasized the importance of maintaining discipline when ahead, reflecting on a moment in the game where a lapse in concentration allowed England to claw back into contention. "When you have a lead of 17-0, you need to stick to the structures and not make it a loose game. We did that, and it resulted in them scoring 14 points to get back into the game."
As the Springboks prepare for their next challenge against Scotland at Loftus, the focus remains on refining their game management to prevent similar comebacks by their opponents. With players like Kolbe at the helm, the team's prospects look promising indeed.