Siya Kolisi is delighted the Springboks kickstarted the 2024 Rugby Championship by banishing their Brisbane curse with a bonus-point win over the Wallabies. DYLAN JACK reports.
The Springboks scored five tries to claim an emphatic victory over the Wallabies for their first win in Brisbane since 2013.
It was just the second time since 1965 that the Boks had beaten the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium, which has been a stronghold of Australian rugby.
Kolisi, who got the rumble started by scoring from a rolling maul in the first half, was thrilled with the result, and cautioned that he expects a response from the Wallabies in the rematch in Perth next week.
“It’s important. In the last couple of years, we haven’t started well,” Kolisi said. “Especially coming here. It’s made a big difference to us in the past, when we’ve come here and lost.
“It’s an important start for us. We are really happy that we got the bonus point, but we know that next week is going to be a different story.
“We’ve struggled over the years. We put a lot focus on this game, not only because we haven’t won here in a while, but also because you can lose the Rugby Championship in these two games.
“So we really wanted to win this game. We know that this is a fortress for Australian rugby.
“We played well in moments. There are things that we can fix. We are happy with the bonus point. But we know next week is going to be a completely different story.”
A sold-out Suncorp Stadium was flooded with green and gold, roaring for the Boks as they threatened to beat the Wallabies by a record margin.
“It was special. We never take it for granted and we are grateful. They always make an effort to come out for us,” Kolisi said.
“Rassie [Erasmus] always reminds us what this team means. It’s not just about us, it’s for the people. You can see how much it means to them, by the numbers that came out.
“I know next week, there are so many people who are excited to see us that side. We want to do it again next week, not just for ourselves, not just for the trophies that we want to win, but for them too.”
Photo: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images
The post Siya hails ‘important’ start for Boks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
