Springbok captain Siya Kolisi shut his critics up in spectacular fashion with an barnstorming performance in Saturday’s win against Ireland at Loftus Versfeld . The world champions beat Ireland 27-20 in the first of two Tests, and will confirm their position as the world’s best team if they win again in Durban this coming Saturday. 😤 SIYA KOLISI!!! #RSAvIRE pic.
twitter.com/C1ZTCu5pq0 For Kolisi, Saturday’s performance will have reassured Springbok fans and head coach Rassie Erasmus that he’s still at the top of his game. Last month, Racing 92 owner Jacky Lorenzetti criticised Kolisi for his performances since coming back into the team following his recovery from injury.
“He had a remarkable start to the season, where he was a unifier off the field,” Lorenzetti said in the interview with French outlet Midi Olympique. “The break was harmful to him. He gained weight, lost form and yesterday he was transparent.
..” Those comments came at a time when Kolisi’s captaincy was under scrutiny after head coach Erasmus had claimed he preferred his captain to be based in South Africa.
Kolisi, though, still retains the trust of Erasmus, who kept him as the team’s skipper , and was on Saturday repaid for the faith shown in the Gqeberha-born loose-forward. Commenting on Jared Wright’s video on X — formely Twitter — where Kolisi sits down Ireland number 13 Robbie Henshaw, Lani Refiti said: “Go high on a powerful player like Kolisi and you may get crushed.” Howe.
