Cheslin Kolbe celebrates winning the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. The double World Cup winner will reach 50 Test caps on Saturday against England in Johannesburg.
Two Rugby World Cup titles, a British & Irish Lions series victory and multiple Rugby Championship triumphs later, it almost seems unthinkable that Cheslin Kolbe is only reaching 50 Tests for the Springboks this weekend.
When the Bok talisman runs out at Ellis Park against England in Saturday’s opening Nations Championship Test, he will bring up a half-century of caps and will no doubt be eager to mark the occasion with another memorable victory alongside his teammates.
While it is a significant personal milestone for the electric winger, it is difficult not to wonder where Kolbe would be on the all-time appearances list, had he been given his opportunity earlier in his career, rather than being overshadowed by questions over his size.
For years, Kolbe was viewed through the outdated South African rugby lens that a player of his stature could not consistently perform at the highest level. Despite stepping and bamboozling defenders for Western Province, the Stormers and later Toulouse, there were still those who believed he was too small to cope with the physical demands of Test rugby.
