“I just try to calm down because there’s nothing you can do that will get you more prepared.
I switch off and listen to my worship music just to calm myself because when you get closer to the game, you know you’re going to have to switch on,” said Kolisi.
The captain also highlighted how the leadership model within the Springbok squad has shifted to distribute responsibility across multiple players.
“I’ve been lucky because I’ve got guys that I’ve been playing with for so long, but also the new guys come with different ideas,” said Kolisi.
This collaborative approach allows every member of the squad to voice opinions during critical tactical stoppages.
“What I enjoy about this group is that everybody has a voice. Sometimes the people who haven’t been here for very long make us see things differently.
When there’s a stoppage, everybody brings their own points because we’re all leaders in this group.
If one person falls, nobody stresses because everybody has something to say,” Kolisi added.
He reiterated that the feeling of anxiety before running onto the field remains unchanged from his early days in international rugby.
“I’m still nervous every single time I play,” said Kolisi.
The captain noted that England features dangerous attacking threats like flyhalf Finn Smith and scrumhalf Jack van Poortvliet, which requires absolute defensive discipline.
“We never walk into a Test match feeling like we are definitely going to win… Playing against England, it’s a huge test.
