G.O.A.T

Siya Kolisi’s 55th Test win as captain saw him officially surpass John Smit’s 54 for the Springboks, but realistically, he cemented his legacy as the greatest Bok captain to date when he became the first to lift a second successive Rugby World Cup in 2023.

BALTIMORE. – Siya Kolisi broke the record for Test wins as South Africa captain in Saturday’s 29-24 win over New Zealand, but the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (RGR) series has proven he is not only one of the greatest captains ever, but also one of the top flankers.

Kolisi’s 55th Test win as captain saw him officially surpass John Smit’s 54 for the Springboks, but realistically, he cemented his legacy as the greatest Bok captain to date when he became the first to lift a second successive Rugby World Cup in 2023.

Still, he has not unanimously been recognised as a top-tier loose forward in the history of the game.

If there was any doubt remaining, this series should have put that to bed, and will be cemented in Baltimore on Saturday.

Leadership aside, the difference between a Springbok side with and without Kolisi has been absolutely visible in pure rugby terms.

In the first Test, the Boks started with a loose trio of Paul de Villiers, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Jasper Wiese.

They fared well in the first half, but Wiese aside, lost control in the second.

Marco van Staden – who came on for de Villiers after the hour-mark – was yellow-carded late on, doing little to help the cause. – ESPN