Siya Kolisi Opens Up on Rassie Erasmus’ Influence on Springboks After Their Win Over All Blacks
- Siya Kolisi opened up about Rassie Erasmus' influence on the Springboks after their 3-1 series victory over the All Blacks
- The captain revealed what Erasmus said to the squad that fundamentally changed the team's mindset and sense of purpose
- Kolisi also described a remarkable moment shared between the two rival teams after the final whistle in Baltimore, USA
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Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has credited head coach Rassie Erasmus with overhauling the team's mentality, saying the transformation began the moment Erasmus took charge and reminded his players of the weight and history of the green and gold jersey.
Kolisi spoke following the Springboks' 43-28 victory over the All Blacks in Baltimore, which sealed a 3-1 series win for South Africa.
Erasmus shifted the team's mindset
According to Kolisi, the Springboks were not in a healthy place mentally before Rassie Erasmus took charge. He credited Erasmus with arriving with a clear plan to change the team’s direction and improve their mentality.
Erasmus also shifted the squad’s mindset away from individual ambitions and towards the importance of the team. He reminded the players of the Springboks’ history, influence and strength while stressing that the collective had to come before individual interests, even though every player still had an important role in making the team successful.
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With the squad made up of players from different backgrounds and speaking 11 different languages, Erasmus managed to bring everyone together around a common purpose. Kolisi said their shared objective was to represent the Springbok jersey with pride and make the people of South Africa proud.
Why players run through walls for Erasmus
Kolisi also highlighted the strong loyalty Erasmus has built within the Springboks camp, crediting the coach for his honesty, belief and unwavering commitment to his players. He explained that Erasmus had been open with the coaching staff about the team's direction, while consistently backing the players and standing up for them. That support has strengthened the squad's desire to perform for both their coach and their country.
Away from the tactical and mental aspects of the game, Kolisi also reflected on the special relationship between the Springboks and their long-standing rivals, the All Blacks. Following the final whistle in Baltimore, the two teams shared an emotional and spontaneous moment together on the pitch.
Kolisi explained that both sides came together to acknowledge the series and show appreciation for each other despite their fierce rivalry on the field. He added that the players maintain a strong relationship away from matches and shared a prayer afterwards, describing the moment as particularly meaningful.
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Source: Briefly News
