Siya Kolisi: Springboks Star Named Greatest Ever International Captain in Rugby History

• Wales and British & Irish Lions legend Dan Biggar made a bold claim about Siya Kolisi's standing among international rugby captains
• Kolisi's return from injury coincided with the Springboks' dramatic turnaround against the All Blacks in their 3-1 series victory
• Biggar compared Kolisi to All Blacks great Richie McCaw in assessing the Springbok skipper's legacy

Wales and British & Irish Lions legend Dan Biggar has ranked Siya Kolisi among the greatest international rugby captains of all time, pointing to the Springbok skipper's outsized influence on South Africa's sustained success.

Biggar made the remarks on The Rugby Pod following the Springboks' 3-1 series victory over the All Blacks, a result that was shaped in no small part by Kolisi's return from a hamstring injury.

**Kolisi's Absence Felt in Opening Defeat

The 35-year-old missed the first Test at Ellis Park, with Paul de Villiers stepping in as captain. South Africa lost that match 33-16, squandering several scoring opportunities. Kolisi then returned to lead the Springboks through three consecutive victories in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Baltimore to seal the series.

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For Biggar, the shift in fortunes was telling. "In the first Test, they bombed a load of chances," he said. "There are people who say: 'Siya's not the best player' and all that. I thought he was amazing as a player, but it just goes to show the influence he's got and all of those things they've achieved, he's been captain of."

Biggar went further, placing Kolisi above even All Blacks great Richie McCaw in the conversation. "McCaw was amazing and everything, but it's hard to see how there's a better international captain that we've seen," he said.

**A Record-Breaking Captaincy

Kolisi's credentials back up the assessment. Under his leadership, the Springboks have claimed two Rugby World Cup titles, a British and Irish Lions series victory, and now a series win over New Zealand. He has also surpassed John Smit as the most successful Springbok captain in terms of Test wins, with 56 victories to his name.

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Biggar also attributed South Africa's consistency to their structural strengths, highlighting their set-piece, kicking game and aerial dominance as the foundations of their success. "Nobody has got a leg to stand on against this Springbok team," he said.

While praising the Springboks, Biggar acknowledged that New Zealand remain a serious force. He noted that the manner in which the All Blacks moved the ball and took the game to South Africa was impressive, and that they would be competitive contenders in the year ahead.

Source: Briefly News