Siya Kolisi Hopes Rugby Championship Glory Inspires South Africans To ‘Walk Tall’ Again

Springboks captain Siya Kolisi says he hopes South Africa’s Rugby Championship triumph will lift the nation’s spirits after a hard-fought 29–27 win over Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday.

“I think I’ve worn this jersey when nobody wanted to watch us play and when it was hard to get a win,” Kolisi said after the match. “And now, at this moment, no matter how tough it is in the game, we know how to win, we know how to fight, we know how to dig deep.”

The victory saw the Springboks clinch back-to-back Rugby Championship titles for the first time, edging New Zealand on points difference. Their earlier 67–30 demolition of Argentina in Durban proved crucial to securing the crown.

Springboks’ Fightback Seals Historic Title

In one of the most fiercely contested Rugby Championship tournaments to date, Argentina surged ahead 13–3 early in the match, but South Africa responded strongly through Cobus Reinach and Malcolm Marx, who each scored twice.

The Springboks’ dominance at the scrum — typically a stronghold for the Pumas — turned the tide as they built a 29–13 lead going into the final quarter. However, Argentina mounted a late comeback, with Bautista Delguy crossing for his second try.

A long-range penalty by Santiago Carreras struck the post in the 77th minute, denying Argentina a chance to narrow the gap. In the dying moments, Rodrigo Isgro added a final try, but it wasn’t enough to deny South Africa the title.

Siya Kolisi and Erasmus Reflect on South Africa’s Momentum

Kolisi said he knows rugby alone cannot change the country but believes it brings hope.
“I know what we do on the field doesn’t change a lot in our country,” he explained.

“But I know the feeling that it gives people — that South Africa is going to walk tall… people that look at us say they know that it’s possible, no matter how tough things are. This win is not just for us, but the people of South Africa.”

Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus praised the team’s depth, even as he admitted there were tactical areas to refine. “I think the character was OK, but tactically there’s a lot of things to fix,” he said. “Definitely trying to build squad depth played a role in the lack of continuity.”

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Erasmus fielded nearly 50 players throughout the tournament, focusing on long-term growth ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Despite their record four world titles, he insisted the team’s focus remains on the present.

Meanwhile, Argentina captain Julian Montoya took pride in his side’s improved performance.

“Last weekend it was tough. We weren’t proud about that. But today we saw our character and we were better,” he said. “You don’t need to be an expert to realise the scrum was our biggest weakness today. But we keep going.”

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