Bok captains put SA first
World Cup-winning Springbok captains Francois Pienaar, John Smit and Siya Kolisi teamed up to answer the profound question: What is it like to lead your country to rugby’s greatest prize?
Pienaar, Smit and Kolisi, whose leadership skills defied all odds, shared their personal narratives of overcoming challenges and lifting the coveted Webb Ellis Cup.
Among the intriguing themes explored, the documentary 3 Captains, 3 Cups, 3 Stripes, captures the immense pressure that comes with the game, the significance of wearing the right boots for optimal performance, and the unwavering support of the fans that has fueled these captains throughout their careers.
This compelling film gathers three iconic South African rugby captains for an intimate and insightful conversation that delves into their remarkable, but unique campaigns. All 3 men wore adidas boots in their victorious campaigns.
“We are all from different generations and we have this opportunity to come together to compare our narratives,” said Smit, whose 2007 Springboks lifted the Webb Ellis in Paris.
Inspired by his predecessors, Kolisi captained the Springboks to an unpredicted third world title in Yokohama.
“I clearly remember watching John and Francois play, my dream was born when I was watching these guys on television,” said Kolisi.
Pienaar’s 1995 Springboks laid the path by inspiring a nation, winning the World Cup on the first attempt on home soil.
“One thing we all have in common is that we all put our country first,” said Pienaar.
A highlight includes the unveiling of Kolisi’s special edition adizero RS15 boot. In a moving moment, Kolisi reveals this remarkable commemorative boot to the other two captains. This boot not only symbolises a decade of dedication and professional success but also encapsulates Kolisi’s inspirational journey from the dusty streets of Zwide.
Collaborating closely with adidas on the RS15 boot, which he and some of his teammates will proudly wear over the next few months, Siya Kolisi shares the motivation and sentiment behind this remarkable collaboration.
“The phrase I Love Zwide is penned in my handwriting on the back tab, while the intricate map of the township I proudly call home is integrated into the boot’s overall print,” Kolisi explained.
“The diverse colours woven into the design hold special meanings: green and gold pay homage to the African Bombers, blue represents my high school, Grey PE, red and black symbolise the Mighty Elephants and Sharks respectively, blue stands for the Stormers (where I made my Super Rugby debut), and the touch of pink commemorates the Mothers Day jersey adidas crafted (in 2015), featuring my mother’s name – a jersey I had the honour of wearing on the field.”
Watch Francois Pienaar, who captained South Africa to victory in 1995, John Smit, who followed suit in 2007, and Siya Kolisi, the triumphant captain of 2019 unite the nation in ‘3 Captains, 3 Cups, 3 Stripes’ exclusively on SuperSport on Sunday, 3 September, at 8pm.
