3. BACK ROW – SAM CANE VS SIYA KOLISI
Two courageous captains who will be leaving it all on the line for their countries this Saturday. New Zealand’s Sam Cane and South Africa’s Siya Kolisi have both battled back from injuries to reach their very best level for the Rugby World Cup. Kolisi defied the odds in his recovery, and was brandished as a ‘medical miracle’, following a swift return from knee surgery.
The Sharks man took just 119 days to get back on the field, after suffering a partial anterior cruciate ligament tear in a United Rugby Championship match against Munster. Kolisi has featured in all but one match for the Springboks at the Rugby World Cup, as he earned a break for South Africa’s pool stage demolition job on Romania. Sam Cane was sorely missed by the All Blacks in their opening round defeat against France, as New Zealand’s captain was side-lined after a late back-injury.
Cane sustained the issue in his own Captain’s run, the day before the All Blacks began their World Cup campaign against Les Bleus. The 31-year-old had an impressive recovery time, and returned for his side’s penultimate pool stage match against Italy. Cane pressed on with increased minutes against Uruguay, and hit his best stride for the quarter-final clash with Ireland.
Cane’s unrelenting defensive work-rate is best presented in his tackle count. Despite missing the first two matches of the Rugby World Cup, the Chiefs man sits at joint-top of the All Blacks tackle charts with 47 completed hits (with Ardie Savea). Cane made a staggering 22 tackles in the quarter-final win over Ireland, with the feat being the all-time second best for an All Black at the Rugby World Cup, behind Richie McCaw’s freakish 26 tackles, against Australia in 2003.
Siya Kolisi currently sits at second place, within the Springboks’ tackle charts. The back-row machine has made 44 tackles, and only lock Franco Mostert’s 57 completed hits is a better showing in a gold and green jersey. The Springboks captain is a certifiable icon of his side, and has passion burns bright when belting out South Africa’s national anthem. Kolisi led his side to the 2019 Rugby World Cup title four years ago, and the flanker wants to become only the second man in history to lift back-to-back Web Ellis trophies, behind of course… Richie McCaw.