Siya Kolisi hungry for more as Springboks switch to knockout mode for Argentina challenge

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi cut to the chase in his customary pre-match press conference when he stated that his team had switched to knockout mode for Saturday’s crunch clash with Argentina in Durban.

“We are treating this match as a semi-final,” Kolisi said of the Boks’ penultimate match of the most exciting Rugby Championship since the tournament’s inception in 1996. The four teams — South Africa, Australia, Argentina, and New Zealand — have each won and lost two matches, and it will be the team that holds its nerve over the next fortnight that will claim the title.

“This is Test match rugby, and it is about trying to win a semi-final,” Kolisi explained. “Ourselves and Argentina have the opportunity to win the Rugby Championship, and if we don’t pitch up mentally and physically at Kings Park, and if we don’t respect the Pumas, we will be in trouble.”

Play-off rugby is bread and butter for Kolisi’s double world champions. They know how to grind out wins in high-pressure situations.

“Our mindset is to play good, solid Test match rugby. We will take points when they are on offer. If we feel we can go for something on attack, we will, but first and foremost it is about winning the game,” the captain said. “Our focus is to respect the opposition but not to shy away from opportunities, and to be ruthless when we get them.”

“This game is of massive importance to us,” Kolisi added. “This is an opportunity to do something we have never done as a group, and that is to win the Rugby Championship back-to-back. We know Argentina are not just going to give it to us because we played well last week against the All Blacks. They also played well last week when they beat Australia, and they should have beaten them the week before, too.”

Kolisi added that there is pressure on individuals to deliver, although always in the context of what is best for the team.

“For us as players, the team has been chopping and changing all season. Each player who gets an opportunity wants to take it with both hands,” he stressed. “You must play the best you can to make sure you put yourself in a position to play again, and also to put the team in the best position to win the Rugby Championship.

"The older I get, the hungrier I get because I see the guys coming in and how good they are. You know, when you stop, Springbok rugby will be in good hands. Coach Rassie continues to strive for victory while building squad depth. Not everything works, but the team’s future is very bright.”

“The place we are in is that nobody thinks this game against the Pumas will just happen, and that we will win. We know what is at stake and we know that Argentina are capable of beating us and winning the Rugby Championship. So we want to play winning rugby, no matter what it takes.”

It is the Boks’ last game for the year on South African soil. Next week, they conclude the Rugby Championship with a return match against the Pumas in London. They take a break until November, when they play five matches in Europe.

“We are grateful for all the supporters that we have had throughout the year, and who will be in the stands at Kings Park. It hasn’t been the easiest year,” Kolisi added, referring to a shock loss to Australia at Ellis Park and a disappointing performance against the All Blacks at Eden Park.

“It has been tough. We have had to pull ourselves out of difficult situations after losing by big scores. We have shown how resilient we are as a team. That is the positive we take into this game against the Pumas.”