How Does Kolisi Fit Into Sharks Set-Up?

The blockbuster signing of Siya Kolisi leaves the Sharks with a unique double-edged selection poser, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

The Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU) on Sunday confirmed the worst-kept secret in South African rugby, that Siya Kolisi is making a switch to the Sharks, bringing the curtain down on an 11-year career at the Cape Town outfit.

The acquisition of the Springbok skipper is a major coup for the Sharks and a further indictment on the sorry state of affairs at the WPRFU, where president Zelt Marais is reportedly the man to blame for the MVM Holdings fiasco. WPRFU’s loss was the Sharks’ gain as MVM moved on swiftly and acquired a 51% controlling stake in the Durban franchise in January.

Kolisi, essentially, is a part of that package. He has a strong bond with a key member of the consortium in Vincent Mai, the chairman and CEO of Cranemere LLC, who was instrumental in Kolisi receiving a scholarship from Grey High School.

He also happens to be the star rugby client of Roc Nation Sports International, a talent agency owned by rapper Jay-Z, who has secured a game-changing marketing deal with the Sharks. Kolisi’s departure for Durban was thus inevitable and he’s been “granted” an early release from his contract (which was set to expire in October) thanks to a transfer fee.

Unearthed as a rough diamond in the impoverished township of Zwide outside Port Elizabeth, Kolisi etched his name in history as the first black captain to lift the Webb Ellis Cup when he led the Springboks to victory in the 2019 World Cup in Japan. He became the most recognisable rugby player on the planet and was snapped up by Roc Nation as a result.

He’s a national treasure, a true inspiration and a transcendent international icon, who has used his platform to plough back through his foundation and various other charitable causes and has consequently received accolades outside of the rugby realm, such as being named the African Trailblazer of the Year at the E! People’s Choice Awards last November.

A relentless, hard-as-nails loose forward, it goes without saying that he’s a phenomenal player. Only an elite group of extraordinary men have earned the double distinction of captaining their country AND represent the Springboks in 50 Tests like Kolisi has.

His Man of the Match performance against Scotland in Nelspruit in 2013 was one of the all-time great Springbok debuts. A fresh-faced Kolisi showed with that outstanding opening act at Mbombela Stadium what a special talent he is, and he’s an even greater leader.

However, considering his unprecedented profile, his arrival at Kings Park poses the question – how and where does Kolisi fit into the Sharks set-up? The side has a clear commander-in-chief in outside centre Lukhanyo Am, who, coincidently, is widely regarded as the next Springbok captain.

They also boast solid back-row depth. At Kolisi’s preferred position of openside flank, James Venter was lured from the Lions as a specialist fetcher while former Junior Springbok Dylan Richardson is another rising star and the current holder of the No.6 jersey after a stellar Currie Cup campaign.

Ex-South African Under-20 captain Phepsi Buthelezi can play on both flanks, Thembelani Bholi and Henco Venter are workhorses on the blindside, while the latter is equally adept at eighthman, where Springbok Sikhumbuzo Notshe is the incumbent.

It’s a unique selection poser and captaincy conundrum coach Sean Everitt has on his hands. Or does he?

If/how the business arm of the franchise will get involved with the “rugby matters” is a question Sharks fans have been pondering since news of the ground-breaking deal broke. Kolisi’s immediate stature in the side will be the first indication of this.

The all-important captaincy decision should always rest with the coach, not the higher-ups, and be substantiated by the players themselves. In this unique case, Kolisi clearly has the credentials to take over the reins from his Springbok teammate, and commercially, it makes sense for the man who’s set to be the new global face of the franchise to also be its captain. One could also argue that it’s of national importance for Kolisi to lead the team.

Sparing Kolisi the responsibility, on the other hand, will allow him to focus on his own game whilst settling into his new environment on and off the park. Considering the little game time he’s had since the World Cup final triumph over England due to injuries, this seems the best course of action for Kolisi and the team.

Regardless, as a Roc Nation representative, the 29-year-old’s off-field commitments will be unlike that of any player in world rugby, but sticking with the settled Am as skipper would, at the very least, free Kolisi of the pre-and-post-match media scrums that form part of coaches and captains’ duties.

Is there a right or wrong way to go about the captaincy conundrum? ONLY if the decision isn’t made for purely rugby reasons. Fans now wait with bated breath to find out who will lead the Sharks into an exciting new era in which MVM aims to turn their investment “into a formidable global rugby brand” as the franchise heads north for the Rainbow Cup in April before the PRO16 kicks off in the latter part of the year.

In uncertain and unpredictable times, what one can be sure of is that the humble and hard-working Kolisi will pour his heart and soul into the Sharks. Barring injury, the beloved, barnstorming Springbok captain’s bound to make a significant and lasting impact in the Black and White.

Quintin van Jaarsveld

Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a former three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year. Formerly the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group, deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com, he boasts over 15 years’ experience and is currently a freelance sports writer.