20 October 2023 , 05:33
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Siya Kolisi crushed any hope of Springbok complacency with 60 million reasons why England should expect the best of South Africa.
On a stage in a small village hall north of Paris made famous by legendary French crooner Charles Aznavour's debut performance, the Boks captain revealed a selection unchanged from that which knocked out the host nation.
He then took us into the lives of every South African to explain why there was no chance of the holders dropping their standards for a semi-final they are overwhelming favourites to win - even if the Boks are holders, world ranked number one and fresh from producing one of the great performances last weekend.
“Who we play for will never change,” said Kolisi. “I wish you could see all the support back home. This is all that people talk about, with everything else happening.
“Kids in schools are sending us clips of them singing - because they know some of us like singing. People at work on Fridays wear green jerseys.
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“And the beautiful thing to see is that people who can't afford them wear anything green, anything to represent the Springboks.”
“Who we play for will never change. I wish you could see all the support back home. This is all that people talk about, with everything else happening" (Gallo Images)
(Gallo Images)Kolisi went on to explain how playing for others made it harder, not easier, to give up because “we're a purpose-driven team, not a trophy-driven team”.
He added: “When you think of how many people would give anything to be where we are; how many people in our country are unemployed.
“I'm not saying we're going to win every game, but giving up and not giving everything would be cheating - not just myself and the team, but he people at home.”
Kolisi poses with Webb Ellis Cup alongside head coach Rassie Erasmus and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2019 (Getty Images)
(David Rogers/Getty Images)Kolisi’s rags to riches story is well known, from Port Elizabeth township where his grandmother raised him and went without food so he could eat, to World Cup glory in 2019.
His fame now transcends sport in a way no other current rugby player comes close yet, according to team mate Damien de Allende, it has not changed him.
“Siya is known across the whole world and sometimes I feel, I won’t say sorry for him but, because he’s so selfless he gives a lot of his own time to make other people happy.
Damian Willemse in action during Springboks' epic quarter-final win over host nation France“I know very few people like that. He can have the worst day possible and he’ll always find a way to make someone else happy. We are privileged to have him in the squad.”
Such compelling testimony is reason to look at England’s 11/2 odds and conclude there are better bets to be had.
Only, one disclosure from Eben Etzebeth, South Africa’s giant second row, rather contradicted the party line that they are treating England with the utmost seriousness.
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Kolisi takes a picture with team mates and Webb Ellis Cup inside dressing room following 2019 final win over England (World Rugby via Getty Images)Kolisi had just said how tough a nut the English are to crack, especially in World Cups, adding the Boks knew “exactly what they are going to bring and the motivation they have.”
Etzebeth was then asked for his opinion on the form of opposite number Maro Itoje and replied: “I haven't watched too many of [England's] games.”
South Africa team to face England: Willemse; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Kolbe; Libbok, Reinach; Kitshoff, Mbonambi, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi (capt), Du Toit, Vermeulen.
Replacements: Fourie, Nche, Koch, Snyman, Smith, De Klerk, Pollard, Le Roux.