Springbok star Cezlin Kolbe left the field with team doctor Jerome Mampane on Saturday evening after sustaining an injury during the first match of the 'Greatest Rugby Rivalry' series.
Kolbe will never forget his first try against New Zealand in 2018, but the most memorable moment of his career is the try he scored in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final against England.
In 2018, Kolbe barely made the squad under head coach Rassie Erasmus, but he had to adapt quickly. In his second international match, he managed to score a try against the All Blacks in Wellington.
Since then, Kolbe has added several other brilliant scores against the 'Kiwis,' including a brace in Wellington in 2025 when the Springboks secured a convincing 43-10 victory over New Zealand.
If he has to choose one moment, it is the try in the 2019 World Cup final that surpasses all others. Kolbe noted: 'My first one is undoubtedly the one I will never forget, and that was in the second match against the All Blacks in Wellington.' He continued: 'Not knowing that I would be part of the Springbok team primarily in 2018, and then being called up, I played my first match, scored my first try against an incredible team like New Zealand, in New Zealand—it was quite special.'
However, choosing just one, he emphasized: 'But if I have to choose one, it is definitely in 2019 at the World Cup final, because in the final you don't have those opportunities to score tries. The win was brought by three-point scores and discipline. And Makiwane Mapimpi and I were among the lucky ones who contributed to the team's success in 2019.'
On Saturday, Kolbe participated in the Springbok first team, which lost to the 'Kiwis' 33-16 in the opening match of the 'Greatest Rugby Rivalry.' Although he did not cross the goal line this time, the 32-year-old player continued to show excellent form against the All Blacks. He actively participated in the attack, handled high passes, and demonstrated accurate kicks at the posts before leaving the field due to injury, which was a serious blow to his team.
Kolbe believes that the history and respect between the two nations will continue to make this rivalry special for future generations. For him, participating in the 'Greatest Rugby Rivalry' is a source of pride, but he believes its significance goes beyond the players themselves.
He added: 'Just being part of the greatest rivalry this year, the first round between the two countries in 30 years, is something you can be personally proud of, but I think it belongs more to the team and the country because it will be something special.'
Having grown up in Cape Town's coloured community, Kolbe experienced this rivalry from a different perspective, as many friends and family supported the All Blacks. He reported: 'I had many such people, and I think some of them still support the All Blacks.' He explained that in their culture, especially in the coloured community, there are many supporters of New Zealand. Many of them started supporting the Springboks because of how the players and coaches transformed this team in recent years, but he admitted that among his friends and family remain fans of the All Blacks.
Interestingly, despite his ultimate dream of playing for the Springboks, Kolbe admits that he admired New Zealand's style of play since childhood; among his childhood idols was former All Blacks player Christian Cullen. As a child, he loved their style of rugby—fast, fearless, and very spectacular. His game was shaped by this style, and he particularly highlighted Christian Cullen's ability to do exceptional things on the field during his time as an All Blacks fullback.
Kolbe holds no resentment towards those who continue to support New Zealand; on the contrary, he believes it adds another layer to the rivalry. He often tells his wife: 'I always tell people, I always tell my wife, that this makes the game interesting. Because imagine if everyone were just Springboks supporters and just New Zealand supporters, I don't know what it would be like.'