Cezlin Kolbe, a back for the Springboks, took selfies with fans at the stadium in Cape Town after the second game of the 2026 Rugby World Cup 'Greatest Rivalry' series, which South Africans won 33-26.
Kolbe noted that the team might have felt the nation's mood of disappointment during the week leading up to the decisive victory over the All Blacks in Cape Town, and they were determined to give their fans a reason to celebrate.
The Springboks managed to recover from a shocking 33-16 defeat in Ellis Park by securing a tight 33-26 win at the stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, leveling the 'Greatest Rivalry' series at 1-1.
For Kolbe, this match held special significance. Being from Cape Town and starting his rugby career in the city, the opportunity to play for the Springboks against New Zealand in front of a full home crowd was a childhood dream come true.
Kolbe stated: 'Cape Town is obviously a special place for me because I was born here. I started my rugby career here.' He added: 'Getting the chance to play for the Springboks against New Zealand in Cape Town is a huge event. Every test match is important, but just traveling to training and to the game tonight to see the people coming out to support the guys, that is truly special.' He emphasized: 'We must never take for granted what this team can do for the country and for the people.'
After a tough week following the major loss in Ellis Park, Kolbe reported that the players sensed the change in atmosphere at home. He said: 'We felt negativity—or not negativity, but less energy during the week due to last week's loss.' He continued: 'As I always say, if we lose, it's 'Blou Maandag' (Blue Monday). We felt it, but we just wanted to fix it tonight. It wasn't easy at all. We needed to stay in the fight.'
Kolbe played an important role in the victory and also established himself as a useful option for scoring points, taking on greater responsibility with his Japanese club throughout the season. The small winger said that scoring goals was not a skill he suddenly added to his game, but rather a capability he had been developing throughout his professional career. 'Regarding kicks, I worked on it and trained since the beginning of my professional career. I just keep working on it,' he said.
However, his experience as a primary kicker in Japan helped refine his technique. Kolbe noted: 'Taking responsibility for scoring throughout the season definitely contributed to my kicking style and technique. I can also thank the coaches in Japan because they work hard with me. Tony (Brown) in the Springboks slightly changed some things for me so I could achieve more consistency.'
Kolbe acknowledged that there is no substitute for constant hard work, regardless of how confident he feels in his range. 'Obviously, you don't step onto the field wanting to miss a kick. You do everything possible to contribute to the team's success,' he stated. 'I will just continue to monitor working on this skill throughout the week. Hopefully, it pays off on the weekend.'
When asked how far he thinks he can kick, Kolbe was less certain. He joked: 'I don't know. I think most balls today just go past the posts. I can't give you an honest radar reading of how far I can go.'
For Kolbe, developing another skill is simply part of being a modern professional rugby player. 'You always need to bring something new to the team. You need to develop and grow as a player and individually too,' he said. 'Ultimately, it contributes to the team's success. I am sincerely blessed with talent that I am grateful for. I will just continue to work hard and do my best.'
Despite the victory being very pleasant, Kolbe was already looking ahead to the next challenge, warning that the All Blacks would respond just as the Springboks reacted after the loss in Ellis Park. 'When you lose, the team comes to prove its point. That happened to us tonight.' He added: 'Now we just need to keep our feet on the ground, get back on Monday, and see where we didn't capitalize on opportunities. New Zealand is a good, quality team. They attack very well and passed us several times. We definitely need to look at where we can improve and become better as a team.'
Nevertheless, the event itself will remain unforgettable for Kolbe. 'For me, honestly, every test match is special. This one today, the greatest rivalry of the tour,' he said. 'I think we are going back 30 years to when this started. For us, as a group, getting the chance to be part of the greatest rivalry is incredible. It is huge for South Africa, for global sport in general. I can definitely say this match is among the best.'
Since the series is now tied, Kolbe knows that motivation will not be abundant in either side when the rivals meet again. However, at the moment, he believes the main lesson from Cape Town is the determination and fight shown by the Springboks when they were in a desperate situation. 'I think just the determination, the fight of every player tonight was incredible.'