Transformation as a competitive advantage: Business lessons from Siya Kolisi’s 100 Tests

WHEN SIYA Kolisi ran onto the field for his 100th Test, he carried more than a rugby ball. He carried the hopes of a nation — one that has struggled for decades to reconcile excellence with equity, history with hope. But this milestone wasn't his alone. It was the shared triumph of a partnership that quietly rewrote what leadership looks like: Siya Kolisi and Rassie Erasmus.

- DR NIK EBERL

One, a young man from Zwide township who learned to fight for every meal. The other, a maverick strategist from the Free State who saw genius where others saw risk. Together, they didn’t just win two World Cups. They showed that transformation — when done authentically — is not a buzzword. It’s a competitive advantage.

The Partnership Principle

Having worked with leaders across five continents through periods of transformation, I’ve seen a universal pattern: the most powerful partnerships aren't between equals — they're between believers.

When Erasmus took over the Springboks in 2018, the team was in disarray. Morale was low, public faith was fading, and unity was fragile. His decision to appoint Kolisi as captain was anything but safe. It was, in fact, one of the boldest leadership bets in modern sport: choosing potential over pedigree, authenticity over convention.

At the time, Kolisi wasn’t the obvious choice. He wasn't the most capped player, the most vocal leader, or the most politically expedient appointment. But Erasmus saw something deeper — a leader who could unite through humility, not hierarchy. It was the kind of decision that defines great leadership: the courage to believe in someone before they believe fully in themselves.

The Unity Equation

South African Rugby Union President Mark Alexander called their partnership one that “transcends the field” He's right — but there's an even greater truth beneath it.