Siya Kolisi, South Africa’s first black rugby captain, believes that Saturday’s Test will be “a new beginning for all of us”.
The galvanising potential in Kolisi’s appointment carries with it echoes of Nelson Mandela’s “rainbow nation” moment in 1995 when the South African president sought to unite the country by appearing on the Ellis Park podium wearing the same No 6 Springbok shirt as Francois Pienaar when he lifted the Webb Ellis trophy.
Kolisi wears the same number and even though he sought to play down his own significance, he did acknowledge that his promotion will have a marked impact when he runs down the tunnel.
“Saturday will be the first time when everything comes together and I...