Kolisi's 50th game as captain: Bok skipper there in days of Duane and new age of Moodie

In Marseille

The Springboks, understandably so, have put everything on the backburner for Sunday's game against Tonga in Marseille, but the fact that the game will be Siya Kolisi's 50th game leading the Boks hasn't been forgotten by his teammates.

Duane Vermeulen had the pleasure of watching Kolisi develop at Western Province and the Stormers, but, with his 2015 departure to Toulon, he didn't get to see the best of Kolisi in Cape Town.

But he has with the Springboks, where he, Kolisi, and Pieter-Steph du Toit form part of the Springboks' first-choice back row.

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Vermeulen, who will be playing in his 73rd Test on Sunday, said it was scarcely believable that Kolisi has led the Boks in so many games.

"From my side, I have known Siya for a very long time, when he was a youngster coming up at provincial level for the Stormers," Vermeulen said.

"He was a young, charismatic guy. He had a lot of opportunities to play and grabbed them with both hands.

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"Within that whole system, he became a fantastic leader in the squad and took over the reins for the Boks.

"I can’t believe it is his 50th match as captain for the Springboks. That’s a fantastic achievement and, hopefully, there are a lot more good things to come from this."

Springbok newbie Canan Moodie has also experienced Kolisi's warmth and generosity in the Springbok camp.

Moodie made his debut against the Wallabies in Sydney last year, where he scored, but the endearing memory of Kolisi was how he welcomed him into the team.

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