Rassie Erasmus has a lot of excellent Springboks in his South Africa side, but there is just one who he calls “once-in-a-lifetime”. It’s not his two-time World Cup winning captain, Siya Kolisi. Eben Etzebeth, the most capped Test player in his country’s history, is also excluded.
No, Erasmus reserves the highest praise for a man who is a foot shorter and 50kg lighter than some of his teammates. In just 38 caps for his country, Cheslin Kolbe has become one of the Springboks’ most important cogs, a comic book invention with flashing feet, rhinoceros beetle strength, and a tool belt suitable for South Africa’s ultimate utility figure.
Want emergency scrum half cover so you can put seven forwards on the bench for the World Cup final? Kolbe is pleased to oblige. Fly half battling with the boot; is an alternative required? The wing will step up, with minimal problems. Do you want to try a unique lineout technique with a back throw? That is also something the 31-year-old is capable of doing.
When asked how he became such a conjuror, Kolbe says, “I’m blessed with the skillset I have, but I work very hard at it.” From playing touch barefoot on the streets of the Western Cape to competing on the sevens circuit, where he won an Olympic bronze medal, he has never been afraid to try new things.
“I am a guy who imagines how the game will play out, where I will end up, and how I will try to get out of it. However, there are moments when you accomplish something you never imagined possible.
“With coach Rassie, you never know what he will come up with. He’s always five to ten steps ahead of everyone else. He sees the game differently and isn’t afraid to try new approaches.
“I am not as large as the other players. That has been a difficulty for me ever since I played school rugby. My size has always worked against me. You need coaches who believe in you and your abilities. That’s what thrills me about playing: the opportunity to prove people incorrect and demonstrate the talent I’ve been given.”
Kolbe is modest and respectful off the ground, preferring to let his rugby speak for itself. His upbringing was not always easy, as he grew up in a neighborhood riddled with drugs, gangs, and violence. Three months before the 2019 World Cup, one of his childhood best friends was slain after serving time in and out of prison.
It demonstrates the various directions life can follow. Kolbe, like many Springboks, speaks of meeting his family at a South African camp – on the day we speak, at a training camp in Jersey, Kolbe is ambushed at a beach bar with a special birthday dessert, his teammates’ burly backs bouncing up and down as they laugh at his expense.
For me, family is everything, and this group is everything,” he admits. “It’s frank and honest. If you are having a difficult time, you can approach each and every player and discuss your feelings. The players will be there to help you overcome that challenge. It’s something unique, and it’s something professional athletes require. Previously, many players suffered with the mental side of things and were unable to overcome certain difficulties.
“Wherever you are in the world, you look forward to returning to the Springbok atmosphere. We are more than simply players; we are brothers who bond on and off the field. I want to stay here for as long as possible and make lots of memories.
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