Siya Kolisi says the Springboks have no intention of settling for a drawn Greatest Rivalry series and will go all-out to beat the All Blacks in Saturday’s fourth and final Test in Baltimore.
The series stands at 2-1 following the Springboks’ victories in Cape Town and Soweto, but Kolisi insists the Boks’ mindset is firmly focused on winning the series outright rather than merely protecting their lead.
“We definitely would love to win the series. We don’t want to draw. We want to win the series for South Africa,” said the Springbok captain. “That’s our mindset coming into this week.”
The All Blacks have made a number of changes for the decider, most notably the return of world-class flyhalf Richie Mo’unga, while also injecting greater experience into their backline.
Kolisi said the Springboks had anticipated Mo’unga’s selection and were well aware of the threat posed by a player of his calibre.
“Richie Mo’unga, we know he’s world-class. I think the coaching staff did expect that selection,” he said. “He’s a world-class player and we really appreciate the way he plays.”
Kolisi also expects New Zealand to adopt a more expansive approach with ball in hand, particularly with Mo’unga directing their attack.
“I think the All Blacks are going to be even more bold when it comes to keeping the ball alive, trying to use the space and wide channels,” he said. “We know how dangerous they are. We’ve played against them many times. We’ve done our homework.”
However, the skipper stressed that South Africa’s primary objective is to impose their own physical dominance rather than second-guessing the opposition.
“The key thing for us is to make sure that we enforce our game, make sure that physically we beat them on the day,” he said.
The four-Test series has presented a unique tactical challenge for both camps, with each side having had three consecutive matches to dissect the other ahead of Saturday’s finale.
“You’re playing the same team four times, so they get to know you as you go, and you also get to know them,” Kolisi explained. “So you have to find other things, other ways or other weaknesses in them that you can exploit.”
New Zealand’s eight changes from the Soweto clash add another layer of complexity to the match-up.
“We’re playing almost a new team compared to last week and that provides a different dynamic,” said Kolisi. “This weekend might be different from the other three games, but it’s always exciting.”
The Bok captain dismissed suggestions that external noise or pressure would alter their tactical approach.
“The expectations we carry are what we want to achieve for each other. What everybody says outside our circle doesn’t really matter. We do what we want for us. We know who we are and we stick to the way we play.”
That does not imply a rigid game plan, with Kolisi highlighting the versatility within the squad — spanning traditional set-piece battles to expansive backline play.
“We’ve seen what we’ve done over the years. We can play a ’70s-style kicking game, and then we’ve got our guys who we can give freedom to on attack. Our system is created for us to give us freedom. It doesn’t say, ‘Play this way.’ It just creates opportunities for us to play.”
Acknowledging the physical demands of three grueling Tests, Kolisi emphasized the need for one final effort at M&T Bank Stadium.
“The physicality of it is going to make it harder on the body,” he admitted. “So we just have to make sure that we finish properly tomorrow.”
With a large contingent of South African expatriates gathering in Maryland, Kolisi added a final word for the supporters lining the streets of Baltimore and those tuning in back home:
“I see there’s a lot of South Africans that have arrived and there’s a good vibe out there. We want to make sure that we represent them.”
