Springbok captain Siya Kolisi described Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand at the Stade de France as one of the biggest matches in his life as the Boks strive to become the first nation to win the Webb Ellis Cup four times and secure back-to-back titles away from home.
The Springbok captain said it’s always a huge occasion facing the All Blacks, and adding the the magnitude of the event, it’s also the two top-ranked teams in the world playing in the RWC final.
"It's huge. We've prepared as hard as we can. We know what to expect. I don't think as a player it will ever get any bigger."
“It’s probably the biggest game of my life,” said Kolisi. "I don't think it's stuff that you can dream about because it doesn't happen often. I don't think it will happen in our lifetime again to have two teams like this."
Kolisi said this occasion was much bigger for the team than just participating in the RWC final, it will be a huge day for South Africa as a whole.
"When we win, South Africa wins. It doesn't say this guy started or this guy kicked the winning penalty. When they write the name on the trophy they say, South Africa."
“What we do on Saturday can control the mood of over 62 million South Africans,” said Kolisi. “People have been sending messages saying when we play it is the only time they are happy, and as a team, we represent all kinds of people.”
As a toddler during the 1995 RWC, Kolisi may not have realised the significance of that win over New Zealand for the country back then, but he is well aware of the importance this time, especially after winning the title in 2019 in Japan.
“I was four years old then (in 1995), so I didn’t get to watch the game,” said Kolisi. “But the significance of that match for the Eastern Cape (where he’s from) and South Africa was massive. "It can't get bigger than this. It will mean a lot to South Africa, as we've seen what's happening back at home. I am sure you've seen all the videos that are coming through. It's huge, I can't explain it."