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TOP 14

Springboks captain Siya Kolisi makes highly-anticipated Racing 92 debut

Racing 92's South-African back row Siya Kolisi looks on during the French Top 14 rugby union match between Racing 92 and La Rochelle at the Paris La Defense Arena in Nanterre, north-west of Paris on November 26, 2023. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images)

There might not be a bigger name in rugby right now than Siya Kolisi. After leading the Springboks to another Rugby World Cup crown, the flanker fits the bill as a genuine rockstar of the sport.

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Thousands of fans watched on in awe on Sunday evening as Kolisi made his highly-anticipated debut for Racing 92 at Paris La Defence Arena against French juggernauts La Rochelle.

Kolisi, 32, started in the backrow alongside Frenchmen Wenceslas Lauret and Jordan Joseph as the Parisian club ran away with a statement 32-10 win over the reigning European champions.

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It was a historic night for so many reasons.

With the World Cup coming to a thrilling end last month as the Boks defeated the All Blacks, the focus of the rugby world quickly shifted to the ongoing European seasons.

Days turned into weeks as anticipation continued to build for Kolisi’s first appearance in the iconic sky blue and white jersey of Racing 92. Well, rugby fans, wait no more.

Running out in a starting side alongside French internationals Cameron Woki and Gael Fickou, as well as England international Henry Arundell, all fans wanted to see Kolisi.

The match got off to a roaring start with Argentinian Juan Imhoff opening the scoring after just five minutes. While La Rochelle hit back with a penalty shortly after, it was all one-way traffic from there.

Related

‘I knew how he felt’: Siya Kolisi’s act of class after emotional World Cup final

At the end of the night, captain Siya Kolisi and the Boks were the ones basking in the celebration of a historic fourth World Cup crown.

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Racing scored 10 unanswered points to round out the half, and to make things worse for Ronan O’Gara’s side, wing Teddy Thomas was sent off with just under 15 minutes to play. Hooker Pierre Bourgarit was also shown a yellow card shortly after.

La Rochelle cut down the lead just after the break with a try to Yoan Tanga Mangene, but it was far from a sign of things to come.

The red card was the major talking point as Racing shot up to first place on the Top 14 standings with an emphatic bonus-point win.

As for Kolisi, the Springboks captain played more than 50 minutes before making way for Max Baudonne. The flanker ran the ball for 21 metres and made five tackles as well.

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Comments

1 Comment
J
Jon 359 days ago

Maybe France can recruit Siya for the national side? Worked for Willemse…Siya, we have electricity 24-7….c’est bon!

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Comments on RugbyPass

S
SC 10 minutes ago
'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

The Tigers reputation baffles me; he had one good season when they won the prem. The following season when the RFU came calling, they were struggling.


He’s then surrounded himself with young, callow coaches. That might work at club level where you might be allowed a season or two for it to bed in, but not at this level.


He’s inability to hang onto those with experience (Jones and Walters) doesn’t bode well.

2 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 13 minutes ago
The Springboks confirm one change made to team named on Tuesday

The bombsquad is pretty impressive, Wales wont be able to handle them.

4 Go to comments
F
Flankly 13 minutes ago
Johan Ackermann returns to SA in new coaching role

Great to see them reinforce the coaching of the Junior Boks. Credit to whoever pulled that off.

2 Go to comments
D
DK 15 minutes ago
Let's be real about these All Blacks

Ben … Firstly agree the Bongi try should have been cancelled, but then you also need to chalk off the first AB try for clear double banking in the lineout drive. What’s good for one has to be good for the other. Secondly why so many if’s … if my aunty had balls she would be my uncle !

23 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 15 minutes ago
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner

They can share it

1 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 18 minutes ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

When England were busy getting to grips with the blitz defence - Nick you may recall - we discussed the importance of fitness of the players to do it properly.


Hence why Aled Walters was so instrumental to the Boks.


Hence why the Bombsquad was forged too - the ability to field close on two packs over 80 and replacing 5 of them in one moment - became part and parcel of the Blitz approach.


I questioned at the time England players' committment to the system as it is no walk in the park.


I suspect that neither Felix nor Aled were getting the full buy-in and support from the players. And that contributed to the "working environment" claims.


Steven Kitshchoff's recent comment about England's fitness hit the nail on the head for me. They're not fit enough to make it work.


Also, they core group of older players all recently got paid upfront in their new sweet deal contracts... Now they're lazy too.


😇

1 Go to comments
F
Flankly 20 minutes ago
'England's blanket of despair feels overdone - they are not a team in freefall'

Yes. Big games are often won by the teams that can execute when it counts. Australia's last try against England is a case in point. Both teams needed to raise their games, in the last possession of the match and with the win on the line. Australia found a way to score and England did not find a way to stop it. Its easy to dismiss it as luck or to blame an individual player, and sometimes that's fair. But great teams raise their games in those circumstances, and significantly increase their success rates when it matters.

15 Go to comments
S
SK 23 minutes ago
Five changes for the All Blacks, including the return of Sam Cane

Well if they decided to go with a rotated team Italy may have had an outside chance. Now they are just gonna try to avoid a hiding

2 Go to comments
F
Flankly 29 minutes ago
'England's blanket of despair feels overdone - they are not a team in freefall'

Agree that progress has been slower than expected, but part of it is that both Razor and Schmidt have improved their teams very rapidly. The high expectation of England winning against one or both of those teams this Nov was partly about them being in rebuild phases. But, despite them having less than a year to effect their respective turnarounds (vs Borthwick having 2 years), both coaches are already delivering results. Borthwick is getting there, but it is taking forever.

15 Go to comments
C
Cantab 34 minutes ago
Five changes for the All Blacks, including the return of Sam Cane

This is not an under strength selection and should be far too strong for the 6th ranked ( Northern) Italians

2 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 36 minutes ago
Johan Ackermann returns to SA in new coaching role

Fabulous News. He can swan about here for a while until the England job opens up.

2 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 41 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

You're outta here!

289 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 41 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Yellow for you. Timeout.


Low risk of danger, so there won't be a bunker review.

289 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 46 minutes ago
Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

LOL. Tinfoil meet head.

17 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 55 minutes ago
Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

Not true. I'm a South African and I absolutely loved seeing the Wallabies beating England. And miss the Wallabies of old who were a devastating force with some of the greatest players of all time.


I hear quite regularly that Australians prefer Aussie rules, league, and cricket over rugby.


So again, seems like Australians are to blame for the state of the game in Australia?

17 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Let's be real about these All Blacks

I find Ben Smith to be an emotionally driven hysteric. So I question everything he writes.


He launched into the year about the ABs being back this year. For a "journalist" his opinions are based on the flavour of the month.


He's at least gone quiet about how sh1t the boks actually are. Although I suspect he's working on an outrageous article to that effect as we speak, to drive engagement after the end of the Autumn series, as we'll all be taking a break until the 6N. Reading his drivel in between extended periods of alcohol and mince pie consumption, and low grade depression related to the lack of international rugby. Leading to more alcohol and mince pies.

23 Go to comments
C
Chesterfield 1 hour ago
Michael Hooper reacts to Scott Barrett’s controversial late-game call

The dominant pack should be enforcing their superiority with maximum points and the psychological advantage of taking the lead.

You don’t get that by saying we’ll settle for three and try again you get it by scoring seven and trying again. Doesn’t come off every time?

No.

But if you’ve asserted dominance letting the opposition off and not trying to build a double score difference is wrong minded.

All blacks have traditionally played to build the unassailable lead not meekly win a single point victory.

11 Go to comments
A
Arnold 1 hour ago
Let's be real about these All Blacks

Aaah. Ben Smith. Ever the unbiased, objective rugby scribe......NOT.

Unable to give credit where it's due, other than for the ABs, especially when it comes to the Boks. His contempt for them is tangible. If you want to " Get Real" about these ABs Ben, consider when they last beat the Boks??? For us Bok fans, beating the ABs is the only true measure.

23 Go to comments
R
Reader76 1 hour ago
Let's be real about these All Blacks

"they [All Blacks] are nuggety and resourceful and don’t wilt. They are prepared to win the hard way, accumulating points by any means necessary."


Sounds like you're describing your arch-nemesis Ben 😁

23 Go to comments
C
CM 1 hour ago
'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

This article only shows a part of SBs failings as England Coach. Firstly his reputation st Leicester was false, his SA and Welsh players won the matches not his coaching prowess. He has Wigglesworth as attack coach, someone who rarely attacked when playing. His player selection is awful, ignoring form players and sticking with failed internationals. He picks players that he knows and will be easy to manage for him. What on earth is Slade doing when even for Exeter he does not make line breaks with steppping, pace or guile, why on earth are Cole,George,Steward,Ford,Iseweke and a few other anywhere near the Team. Borthwick is awful as Head Coach of England.

2 Go to comments
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LONG READ Despite defeat in Paris, the real reason the All Blacks are feeling upbeat Despite defeat in Paris, the real reason the All Blacks are feeling upbeat
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