The Springboks’ November tour may be a blessing or a curse for captain Siya Kolisi, who announced on Tuesday that he and his wife Rachel were terminating their marriage.
The statement on social media came a few hours after coach Rassie Erasmus unveiled the 34-man Springboks touring party for matches against Scotland, England, and Wales.
Kolisi most likely met with Erasmus about his marital status before the squad was released, and he must have persuaded the coach that he will be in the right frame of mind to lead the Boks in the United Kingdom next month.
Erasmus, who went through his own divorce in May this year, would not have taken Kolisi on tour if he didn’t believe he was fully committed to rugby and the task at hand.
Erasmus selected a strong touring team to reclaim their No. 1 status following a tight setback against Argentina in the Rugby Championship, which saw Ireland surpass the Boks. Erasmus, a man who dislikes diversions and leaves things to chance, would have been honest in his conversation with Kolisi.
During Chasing the Sun 2, Erasmus famously stated after the 2023 Rugby World Cup setback over Ireland that “Siya Kolisi is not the most important thing in South Africa… South Africa is the most important thing in South Africa”.
However, it is clear why Erasmus believes Kolisi will be fully focused on rugby by the time they face Scotland on November 10.
Kolisi and Erasmus’ relationship goes much beyond the coach giving the flank the skipper in Erasmus’ debut Test in charge of the Boks in 2018. It began when Kolisi relocated to Western Province after high school.
When Erasmus declared, “Siya Kolisi isn’t the most important thing in South Africa,” he understood exactly what buttons to push to get his captain’s head back in the game and help them win another World Cup.
Erasmus also offered Kolisi every chance to compete in the 2019 and 2023 World Cups, despite the fact that he was severely underprepared due to significant injuries. Erasmus, on the other hand, understood that his talents as a player and a leader were required for success… and they were.
Early this year, prior of the Ireland series, Jacky Lorenzetti, the owner of Kolisi’s former French club Racing 92, criticized him for “excessive weight, losing shape,” and being “transparent.”
However, Erasmus arrived and announced, “Siya will wear the No. 6 jersey. Siya has sustained no injuries. Siya isn’t fat. And Siya isn’t transparent.”
Following Erasmus’ approval, Kolisi acted as if he intended to prove a point to Lorenzetti and the rest of the world. He subsequently followed that effort with an outstanding Rugby Championship campaign, which resulted in the Boks winning the trophy.
Kolisi was also steadfast in making it to the last two World Cups while wounded, particularly last year, when he battled through a grueling rehab after a major ACL injury to lead the Boks into France.
However, while Kolisi is a superstar and one of rugby’s most recognizable brands, as well as a man who enjoys beating the odds, he is just human, and no one can anticipate how he will perform on the November trip, or how the media circus they may face in the United Kingdom will effect him and the team.
What we do know is that his buddy and coach Erasmus will be by his side for the next month to help him deal with everything on and off the pitch.