'It's funny': Springboks captain dismisses All Blacks criticism
While the All Blacks are always under some degree of pressure and scrutiny, Springboks captain Siya Kolisi believes “it’s funny” how harshly they’ve been criticised this year.
Both the legacy of the coveted black jersey and the passion of their fans makes being an All Blacks one of the greatest honours a New Zealander can achieve.
But there’s pressure with that – a lot of expectation – that has caused countless players in the past to either sink or swim in the Test arena.
The All Blacks had to point to prove this season after losing crunch clashes with Ireland and France on their end-of-season tour last year.
While the men in black were able to avenge that loss against the Irish at Eden Park to open their season, a disastrous losing streak followed.
New Zealand had never lost a Test against Ireland at home, but they went on to lose their next two matches – and ultimately the series after a thriller in Wellington.
After losing to the Springboks and Argentina during The Rugby Championship, the All Blacks began to turn their form around.
The All Blacks ended their season on a seven Test unbeaten run, which included a dramatic draw against England at Twickenham.
Considering how competitive international rugby is now, the All Blacks deserve some praise.
Star flanker Siya Kolisi was asked about the All Blacks’ form this year and the criticism they’d received, which he quickly dismissed by commenting on the “good tough time” the men in black have had this year.
“It’s funny how you say it’s been a tough time for the All Blacks while they’ve won almost every competition they’ve played in,” Kolisi said on SENZ Breakfast.
“That’s a good tough time to have. That just shows the expectation of the group and I think it’s an amazing group.”
As for the reigning World Cup champions South Africa, they finished their 2022 season with an emphatic win over Eddie Jones’ England last weekend.
While the Springboks did lose to Ireland and France during the Autumn Nations Series, they’ll undoubtedly be a contender at next year’s World Cup.
“For us, we’ve been learning a lot and I think we’ve been improving quite a lot. I think this autumn series has helped us quite a lot and got us a lot of answers,” he added.
“A lot of players put their hand up so we would’ve loved to win all four games but I think we got the answers we needed.”
The Springboks created some history with the 27-13 win at Twickenham, which was their first victory at the venue for years.
South Africa controlled the Test after racing out to a convincing halftime lead. England were trailing 6-27 before Thomas du Toit was red carded an hour into the match, which gave them a glimmer of hope.
While they were able to score the final try of the night in the 72nd minute, the home side still couldn’t get close to their opponent’s strong lead.
“For most of us it was the first time winning in Twickenham.
“We know what we can do and we really trust every single guy in the team. For some people it could’ve been their last time playing (at Twickenham) because next year is a World Cup.
“Everybody had to stand up and I thought the way we fought together as a group after the two close losses against Ireland and France, and then we obviously put a good performance against Italy.
“We knew this meant so much, not just for us but for the people back at home. As tough as the tour was, the people didn’t stop supporting us.
“It just reminded us of what we’re playing for and what a privilege it is and we have to deliver on the day.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Pick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
15 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
15 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
15 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
15 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
15 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
15 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
15 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to comments