‘If you’re not fit, you can’t play here’: Siya on mixing it up with young Boks

We are just 14 months out from the 2027 Rugby World Cup, where the Springboks will look to go back-to-back-to-back and secure an unprecedented third Webb Ellis Cup in a row.

And, based on all evidence, Siyamthanda Kolisi will captain that side once more.

Ahead of the new international season that starts with a Nations Championship Test against England at Ellis Park next weekend, Kolisi was put up for a virtual media briefing alongside Rassie Erasmus on Monday.

It was, very clearly, coach and captain plotting the road ahead.

Kolisi, now 35, played 46 minutes of this past Saturday’s 80-31 victory over the Barbarians in Gqeberha.

He was busy, making strong runs in the outside channels, doing the dirty work at the breakdowns, and making his hits on defence.

READ | Why Faf de Klerk was left out of Springbok squad

It might have “only” been the BaaBaas, but Kolisi showed – yet again – that he still has plenty in the tank when it comes to the green and gold.

He will almost certainly start and captain against England, barring any unfortunate circumstances.

It has been eight years since Kolisi stood under the posts at Ellis Park, 21-0 down against England, bewildered in his first match as Bok captain.

Everybody knows what happened after that. He went on to lead the Boks to World Cup titles at Japan 2019 and France 2023 and has already cemented his legacy as one of the great captains the global game has ever seen.

But now, in the relative twilight of his glorious career, he is pushing for one last hurrah.

He isn’t the only one.

All through this Bok squad, there are players who have been there and done that. The group is littered with double World Cup winners, several of whom are well into their thirties with no certainties when it