Kolisi: We could see the hurt in Franco's eyes

WHILE Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and coach Rassie Erasmus are in awe of their team’s fighting spirit, they are at their wits’ end regarding the red-card plague that has beset the team.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

The Boks had to dig deep to beat Italy in Turin on Saturday after receiving an early red card for the second week in a row. In the 11th minute, lock Franco Mostert received a red card for a dangerous tackle, as did fellow second-rower Lood de Jager last week in the 38th minute of the Boks’ defeat of France.

Kolisi, commenting on his team’s ability to adapt to dire situations, said: “We went through it last weekend, and this week we went through the same thing. So, we make plans in the game as we go along because such things happen.

“The biggest thing that we were asked this week is to show our ‘Africanness, and that’s about making plans because there are always stumbles, and that’s what I am grateful for with our coaching staff.

“They are always prepared for any scenario, and even the guys who are not playing sit and make plans..”

Kolisi added: “It doesn’t make it easy for us. We can talk about sacrifices, but seeing a guy like Franco sitting there, we could see the hurt in his eyes.