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‘Could have done better’: Siya Kolisi’s stunning revelation after World Cup glory
Siya Kolisi will go down in history as one of the greats. After hoisting the Webb Ellis Cup four years ago in Japan, the Boks captain led South Africa to back-to-back titles at the 2023 World Cup.
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South Africa secured back-to-back crowns after besting rivals New Zealand 12-11 in a thrilling final at Stade de France last weekend. The Boks reached rugby immortality once again.
But there’s something uniquely special about the Springboks. For a team that continues to stand atop of the rugby world, the Boks have already looked at what they “could have done better.”
That says a lot about the world champions.
Long after the full-time siren had sounded, the once-packed stadium was empty. There was nobody sitting in the stands, with the groundskeepers the only other people in sight.
But you could hear the champions.
Whether it was the Boks themselves or possibly their supporters, a faint version of their rendition of The Cranberries’ Zombies echoed throughout the Parisian venue. The champions definitely sang that song though, as confirmed on social media.
@rugbyworldcup South Africa with their rendition of Zombie after winning the Rugby World Cup 🏆 #rugby #RWCfinal #RWC2023 ? aint no mountain high enough – sped up audios
Later, lock Eben Etzebeth got a haircut from teammate RG Snyman at 5.00 a.m. as the Boks continued to enjoy their historic achievement.
Match Summary 
2
Penalty Goals
4
1
Tries
0
0
Conversions
0
0
Drop Goals
0
149
Carries
85
7
Line Breaks
4
19
Turnovers Lost
9
2
Turnovers Won
7
But amongst all the euphoria, relief and celebration, the Boks took a moment to reflect after defeating the All Blacks by a single point in one of the most memorable World Cup finals ever.
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“We won the World Cup and then we got our stats late last night while we were partying as a team and we still looked at them, you want to see what you could have done better,” captain Siya Kolisi told a few reporters at the World Rugby Awards on Sunday.
“That’s when we went crazy when we saw how many tackles Pieter-Steph (du Toit) made.
“Right now we’re just recovering and enjoying each other’s company and then when we go home, I think that’s when it’ll start sinking in because we’ll see exactly what we’ve been playing for and we’ll see what it means to the people back home,” Kolisi also mentioned.
It wasn’t the final that many expected before the Rugby World Cup. Fans and pundits from the world over tipped the likes of Ireland and France to usher in a new era of northern hemisphere dominance, but the south reigned supreme.
Both the Boks and All Blacks were “written off in the quarter-finals” before playing those northern hemisphere heavyweights respectively, but The Rugby Championship sides emerged victorious.
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“We have so much respect for them. We were both written off in the quarter-finals already – people were talking about how dominant the northern hemisphere is,” Kolisi added when asked about the All Blacks.
“We know what we can do as the southern hemisphere. They were written off probably by a lot of people but we know what the All Blacks are.
“You cannot write off a team that has achieved more than any other team in the history of rugby… their win percentage. We know what they can do.”
The All Blacks had lost to the Boks 35-7 in a record defeat just two weeks before the tournament and opened their World Cup with another loss to France.
But the Kiwis continued to chip away behind the scenes, and it almost paid off with the ultimate reward.
Utility Jordie Barrett missed a penalty attempt at goal which would’ve given the All Blacks a slender two-point lead with about five minutes to play in the final.
But it wasn’t to be for the All Blacks. There was no fairytale finish for coach Ian Foster in his last Test, and captain Sam Cane will be left to live with a historic red card “forever.”
“They went about their work and we always said, ‘Watch out for the All Blacks.’
“We knew what they could do… I’ve got so much respect for them for how they turned things around and how hard obviously they worked and how good coach Ian Foster is.
“It must be tough to coach knowing that is probably your last couple of days, to put all the emotions aside and to try and focus on coaching a side and getting them back.
“Sam Cane too, a lot of people gave him a lot of criticism about his game and the way he played this World Cup has been ridiculous – actually his whole year. It tells a lot about what kind of characters and people they are in New Zealand.
“That’s why the team was able to get to the final.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Good on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
19 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
19 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
19 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
5 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
19 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
19 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
4 Go to commentshit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
5 Go to commentsSlade was exceptional against Gloucester. Not only was he doing the classic Slade stuff of running amazing lines and timing passes to perfection to put his wingers into space, he was kicking goals, flying off the line smashing people and crashing into rucks like a flanker… his hair even looked on point. 😍
1 Go to commentsThat’s really sad, hope everyone involved is ok. At least he had pants on.
4 Go to commentsTo be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
1 Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
5 Go to commentsCan we also show some love for Tane Edmed’s fantastic draw and pass? Put his body on the line and committed the defender before letting go of that pass. Flawless skill.
5 Go to commentsYou forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time. For Rassie, a loss is never a loss because he uses it as a chance to learn and improve. Sometimes during a game, again like the England match in last year's Semi Final.
7 Go to commentsDanny don't care. He pretends to care but he don't. He says all this stuff to justify his reasoning but no one can claim that legitimately. He knew exactly what he was doing and wondered if his old team mate would overlook it, which he did. Ref has got to be sidelined or properly trained. It's one thing for refs to move up the ranks but if it was me I would require refs to either have played in different clubs or not at all having the temptation to bias in high stakes games like this. This has got to be stamped out. But then again World Rugby is so destroying the game of rugby in an attempt to be more “safe” and “concussion free”. What they are doing is making it more infuriating for the fans and more difficult for the refs to officiate evenly and consistently. It's fast become Australian Rules football. If guys don't want concussions, they should have played chess. Stop complaining you oldies of the game. When they played the game was vastly heavier hitting than it is now but of course they can't see that.
3 Go to comments