Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

The subtle transformation in Siya Kolisi's game over The Rugby Championship

Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Siyamthanda Kolisi produced arguably the most influential performance of his Springbok career in South Africa’s 24-8 demolition of the Wallabies in Sydney this past weekend.

ADVERTISEMENT

Apart from his Man of the Match performance, there was a not-so-subtle change in his style – something that has been coming along throughout the Rugby Championship, but finally emerged in all its glory in Round Four.

Kolisi has, for years, been denounced for his playing style – performing the role of a ‘wing forward’.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

Despite wearing the No.6 jersey, he often roamed in the open field as a ball-carrier – getting possession in the tramlines near touch and speeding towards the tryline.

It did not go down well with a large collection of Bok fans, who prefer their loose forwards to be hard-grafting players in the trenches.

However, in the current edition of the Rugby Championship, a distinctly alternative style of play emerged from the Bok skipper.

Not only was he more active on defence – with his tackle count often into double digits – but Kolisi also got stuck in at the breakdown.

ADVERTISEMENT

The results were not immediately evident, but the 31-year-old’s transformation was glaring in Sydney.

Related

He played like a traditional openside flank – No.6 in South Africa and No.7 in the rest of the world.

In the Boks’ bonus-point win, at the Sydney Football Stadium, the 69-times capped loose forward delivered in all aspects.

He had seven carries for 21 metres.

That, in itself, is not something that would have silenced his critics, until you see that he also beat three defenders and had a sublime offload.

ADVERTISEMENT

Now add in his eight tackles, with only one missed tackle, and his work at the breakdown – three crucial turnovers won.

Those turnovers – in a team that has master poachers like Malcolm Marx and Steven Kitshoff – tell you exactly how much Kolisi’s game has evolved.

While not many would have picked up on the transition in the earlier rounds of the Rugby Championship, the numbers tell a story of their own.

In the first three rounds, Kolisi had 11 carries for 33 metres, beat two defenders, made 32 tackles and won two turnovers.

While it is unlikely his detractors will all be won over by one game, the Bok captain has come a long way since his Test debut against Scotland as a 21-year-old a decade ago.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

1 Comment
f
finn 915 days ago

I don't understand! Who was denouncing him for playing a wide role?

Do South Africans want all their forwards to always be right in the middle of the pitch? How would they get quick ruck ball in wide channels if that was he case?

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

S
SK 17 minutes ago
How Dupont-less France tossed a grenade into Ireland's Grand Slam celebrations

I think France have made really good improvements. They have found several players on the bench and in the wider squad who are able to now operate at the level of their starters, they have power and devastation on the bench and can change the game. Their gameplan has also evolved and they are able to stay in the fight for longer. Fitness and conditioning seems to have become primary work ons. They have worked massively on breakdown where they forced so many turnovers and always slowed down Irelands ball. How many times did you see a French hand on the ball fighting the first and second cleaner tooth and nail for access before being shoved off of it? They become like a pack of rabid dogs on turnover and transitions, they counter so much better now and you can see elements of the Bordeaux and Toulouse game written all over the team. Its almost like a swarm when they counter. They have great alignment between the Top 14 and the national team and they have a group of players who are well versed in playing this style. You could see clearly in this game why both Galthie and Erasmus now fancy a 7-1 stack against Ireland. It is by and large to overpower them and demolish their breakdown. Irelands attack has devolved. Its now more metronomic than creative. It involves phase after phase of attritional attack and hordes of possession but it lacks creativity and purpose after the second or third phase. The Ireland attack of old kept teams guessing. You didnt know if they were gonna go wide or close in, you had to worry about the offload, the inside pass, the blindside and the hooker on the wing. Now it seems like they move the ball side to side while patiently waiting for the dam wall to break. They also lack pace and bite in the outside channels without Hansen and Lowe. Nash and Osborne were not on it and they struggled to contain the outside French backs who were incredible. France had more leaders that stood up, more grit and more power and it all proved too much for Ireland to handle.

100 Go to comments
N
Novelty Dmv Experts 1 hour ago
English rugby pundits and fans really need to get a grip

We are here to help everyone erase their criminal records , DUIs , bad driving records and other criminal records needed without any mishap .We have the Real registered drivers license, Illinois state id requirements, Illinois id requirements , what do you need to get your license Illinois  how to get a new drivers license illinois  ,  Fake Malaysian passport , credit card hack software, Fake UK Passports , Fake Bank Statement , Fake bank statement for loan , How To Get A Driver’s License in Ontario And British Columbia and good quality Fake Driver License will be verify from any other country with no problems involved, meanwhile with the camouflage quality Fake drivers License , non of your biometric details will be under the government system, but it can not be detected as fake with naked eyes. We also help people with DUI and other criminal records erased without any mishap , how to get your DUI erased is a problem which is solved here.

Now email us today at our E-mail address at: { qualitydocuments9@gmail.com }


Visit our website on : noveltydmvexperts.com


Thanks and waiting to Hear from you soonense for USA , UK , Canada which is unregistered. Real Estate License , How To Get A Fake Drivers License That Works From The DMV . Belgian driving license , Irish driver License , Fake drivers license nsw , How to spot a fake id Australia .With the Drivers License , all your biometric details as given from birth or How to Easily Order for a fake driver License online from the comfort of your home . Meanwhile in UK , you can easily obtain a Fake Driving Licence UK Online without any driving test.  Welcome to Novelty DMV Experts Best Producers of High Undetected Drivers License . We produce two types of documents qualities. Both real and fake drivers License . We also offer quality   Irish Drivers License  for Irish Citizens.

6 Go to comments
l
lucky tam 3 hours ago
Can 'great' Gibson-Park best 'freakish' Dupont in scrum-half clash for the ages?

Galaxy Ethical Tech is a company that specializes in ethical hacking and cybersecurity services, including the recovery of lost or stolen cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. If you've lost access to your Bitcoin due to hacking, phishing, or other issues, here's how Galaxy Ethical Tech might assist you: They will assess your situation to understand how your Bitcoin was lost (e.g., hacked wallet, phishing scam, lost private keys, etc.) You’ll need to provide details such as transaction IDs, wallet addresses, and any relevant information about the incident.Their team of ethical hackers will use advanced digital forensics tools to trace the movement of your Bitcoin.They analyze blockchain transactions to identify where the funds were transferred and attempt to locate the perpetrator. If your Bitcoin was lost due to forgotten passwords, corrupted wallets, or lost private keys, they may use specialized software to recover access to your wallet.This process often involves brute-force techniques or other recovery methods to regain access.If your Bitcoin was stolen through a phishing scam or fraudulent scheme, they will investigate the scammer’s digital footprint.They may work with law enforcement agencies to track down the culprits and recover your funds. Galaxy Ethical Tech uses blockchain analysis tools to trace the flow of Bitcoin through the blockchain.They identify patterns and connections that could lead to the recovery of your funds.If necessary, they collaborate with legal authorities and law enforcement agencies to take legal action against the perpetrators. This can include freezing accounts or seizing assets linked to the theft. After recovery, they may provide guidance on securing your cryptocurrency assets to prevent future losses.This includes setting up multi-factor authentication, using hardware wallets, and educating you on avoiding phishing scams. No Guarantees : Recovering lost Bitcoin is not always possible, especially if the funds have been moved through multiple wallets or mixed with other cryptocurrencies.Ethical hacking and recovery services can be expensive, so ensure you understand the fees involved before proceeding. Always verify the credibility of the company you’re working with to avoid falling victim to another scam. If you’re considering using Galaxy Ethical Tech or a similar service, ensure they have a proven track record and positive reviews from previous clients.

contact them via Email: galaxyethicaltech@mail.com Whatsapp: +15072712442 Telegram: Galaxy_ethical_tech

8 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Graham Simmons: 'Stick a fork in the 2025 Six Nations. It’s done.’ Graham Simmons: 'Stick a fork in the 2025 Six Nations. It’s done.’
Search