Why Siya Kolisi’s Sharks exit is anything but a lap of honour ahead of URC business end

Siya Kolisi looked like a happy man in the stands at Newlands watching SA20 cricket, and nobody can blame him for wanting to return to his family in Cape Town, but there remain hard yards for him to do in Durban before he rejoins the Stormers in July.

Kolisi will be the first one to acknowledge that the Sharks have been kind to him, and did him a big favour in getting him out of his contract with Racing 92 in Paris when he suffered homesickness.

Kolisi has done his bit for the Sharks, but they would love one last big push from him in the nine United Rugby Championship matches they have left before the play-offs in June.

It is Kolisi’s expertise as a loose forward and his vast experience as a leader that coach JP Pietersen will want the Springbok captain to continue sharing with the up-and-comers at the Shark Tank. There are plenty of them, from fellow flanks Nick Hatton, Phepsi Buthelezi, and Matt Romao to front-rowers such as Phatu Ganyane, Eduan Swart, Hanro Jacobs, and Lee-Marvin Mazibuko.

Last week in Cape Town, Kolisi made an impact off the bench to help secure a 30-19 victory over his future team, and hopefully, he is injury-free for the return match in Durban this weekend.

“I think he was huge for us when he came on in the second half last week, with his leadership and his actions and what he did around the field,” said coach JP Pietersen. “You could see the way he was talking. He was massive for us in that time he was on.

"He gives belief, and what he is saying makes people better around him. It’s going to be sad for us seeing him go to the Stormers, but he’s still got a job to do for us until the end of the season. I am just happy with what he can contribute to us in terms of his leadership. You can’t coach leadership, and he was born with it.”

Pietersen was also full of praise for fullback Aphelele Fassi, who was named Player of the Match in a much-improved performance from the Springbok star.

Fassi missed much of the first half of the season because of an ankle injury and has had some inconsistent performances since his comeback, but against the Stormers, he looked more like the player who, at one point, was Rassie Erasmus’s first choice in the green and gold No. 15 jersey.

“Aphelele was good in Cape Town,” Pietersen said. “He’s got that X-factor that every team wants. There’s his attacking ability, but also his technical ability. He’s got a kicking game, and he’s good on the high ball, knowing when to transfer.”

Pietersen will need another big one from Fassi on Saturday at the Shark Tank. The Stormers are bound to be better after performing poorly last week, notably in the set pieces, and with better quality possession coming the way of playmaker Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Fassi will be gainfully employed at the back.

“The Stormers will definitely come back harder this weekend,” Pietersen said. “We know they are going to come up to Durban wanting to prove a point. The challenge in rugby is always ‘Can you double up?’ and that is our theme for the week.”