Cheslin Kolbe had limited opportunities against the All Blacks this past weekend. Picture: Henk Kruger, Independent Newspapers
Cheslin Kolbe’s list of opponents he’s knocked flat on their backside in a Test match is growing in length and size.
The Springbok pocket rocket added the bulky frame of All Black lock Scott Barrett last weekend at Ellis Park to the list in the first Rugby Championship Test of 2024 between the sides, which the Boks won 31-27.
That famous list includes the names of French loose forwards Gregory Alldritt and Anthony Jelonch, Ireland winger James Lowe, and All Black scrumhalf Aaron Smith.
It’s the Barrett one that has the tongues wagging, though, especially ahead of the second Test this Saturday in Cape Town (5pm start).
South Africa can take a significant step to winning their first Rugby Championship title since 2019 if they can clinch back-to-back Test wins against the Kiwis.
Kolbe says he did not target Barrett deliberately on Saturday when he got the ball under the arm, he was just avoiding the tackles but knew somewhere he had to straighten his running.
“It was a spur of the moment (thing) and I just went in as hard as I could. It turned out well, I didn’t get smashed, which is good,” Kolbe said.
“A lot of people think I am going to step all the time, but you also need to vary your game now and then. So, you just go in as hard as you can.”
Scott Barret wasn't his target on Saturday, Cheslin Kolbe just wanted to vary his play to not become too predictable by stepping every defender. He decided to face the lock head on and came out trumps in that bump #RugbyChampionship #RSAvNZL pic.twitter.com/E2C32GTxYr
— Leighton Koopman (@Leighton_K) September 4, 2024
Whether he will add another name to that bumped list at Cape Town Stadium remains to be seen. Kolbe warned, though, that they can expect a hurting Kiwi side looking to hit back.
But the Boks also want to show they can perform for two matches in a row and not just produce one great display and fall off the wagon the next week.
They were in a similar position in the series against Ireland earlier this year and ended up sharing the spoils, but they set things right in Australia by going back-to-back for the first time in the professional era.
Now they want to do so against the Kiwis too, although the Boks haven’t won in Cape Town against them for almost two decades.
5'7 Cheslin Kolbe doesn't always step around you, sometimes he goes right through you 💥👇 pic.twitter.com/RqwKm54O4t
— Angus (@AnalystGus) September 1, 2024
“We’ve been struggling in the past having two consecutive games (wins) against opponents. Obviously, Ireland earlier in the year and then Australia which we’ve done quite well. We are trying to improve and get that consistency whenever we do play teams consecutively,” Kolbe said.
“It depends on how well we focus throughout the week. We must prepare as well as we can and stay on task. If I am selected, playing the All Blacks in the city where I am from will be a massive privilege.
“But it’s not about me, it’s about the team and us doing well this Saturday.”
The world champions did well to prevent the New Zealanders from getting a fast start in Johannesburg and scored points when it mattered to keep in touch with them. Even when the visitors built up a 10-point lead late in the game, there was never any panic from the home side as they chased the win at Ellis Park.
“They caught us out a few times and there was a stage where we didn’t have continuity. But we managed to hang in there and pulled it through. It will all be about that first 20 (minutes) and a physical start (on Saturday) that will lay the foundation for how the Test will go.”
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