Siya: We won't be here forever

Siya Kolisi says the Springboks’ senior players won’t hold back what they’ve learned from the youngsters coming through, because the team’s legacy depends on it.

Lock Riley Norton, flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed, centre Markus Muller and utility back Luan Giliomee all earned Bok call-ups for the European leg of the Nations Championship, though they’re not likely to see any game time.

Ahmed picked up a shoulder injury and has been replaced in the squad by the most-capped Springbok, Eben Etzebeth.

“Coach Rassie [Erasmus] said from day one that winning, transformation and building squad depth is important,” said Kolisi on Thursday. “There will come a time when a lot of us are not here, but while we’re here we are able to give to the players even if they’re not playing.

“They’re there with us, they’re learning, we’re training together and we’re passing the information on and that’s really important. I think that’s what’s made us special as a group because we care more about the team and the country than ourselves.

“I’m not going to sit here and keep the information I’ve learned to myself. If I can make Paul [de Villiers]’s life easier for the game [then I’ll do it] because when there’s a trophy on the table, people will say the Springboks won.

“You can be successful as a group but if you stop and the team starts struggling, it means you didn’t leave a proper legacy.”

Stick says the Springboks test young players on more than their ability on the field.

“It’s always been part of our plan to make sure that we keep on building squad depth. Sometimes people think you only learn between the four lines in the match 23.

“For us we want to sometimes test the players if they can handle our environment and how we operate. We always say we don’t select probably the best players in South Africa, but we select the players who are right for the environment.

“So I think for guys like Luan and Markus when it comes to how we operate and how tough the training sessions are, it’s not child’s play.

“For those boys to handle whatever we throw at them, it’s sometimes one of the biggest things we do when we give guys an opportunity to be part of the system.”