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South Africa captain Siya Kolisi: 'We're an aggressive team, and we can't take that away'

Rassie Erasmus, RG Snyman (c) and Siya Kolisi pose for photographs at the team's hotel on Friday
Rassie Erasmus, RG Snyman (c) and Siya Kolisi pose for photographs at the team's hotel on Friday

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi wants his side to maintain their physical presence when they take on Ireland in Dublin on Saturday (5.40pm), despite two red cards in as many games, one of which was rescinded this week.

Lood de Jager was sent off against France and Franco Mostert versus Italy, but the Springboks won both those games with 14 men.

Mostert's red was later rescinded, while De Jager lost an appeal, but Kolisi says that physicality is part of who they are and what has taken them to back-to-back World Cup titles.

19 November 2025; Siya Kolisi during a South Africa squad training at UCD Bowl in Belfield, Dublin. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Asked if discipline could be a deciding factor this weekend, Kolisi (above) said they had been working hard on their tackling in particular.

"We want to play with 15 men," he told reporters on Friday.

"We’ve been working really hard on all the controllables, level changing, wrapping, doing that over and over.

"We’re an aggressive team, and we can’t take that away, which is why we work so hard to make sure we stay on the field."

Kolisi knows his side will have to be at their best to win in Dublin for the first time since 2012.

"Ireland are a really good team and we have struggled for many years in terms of winning here. We’re going to need everybody. It’s all about taking opportunities," he said.

"The games we’ve lost (against them) by one or two points or three points, we’ve had chances at the end and didn’t take them. We’ve learned a lot and worked really hard this week."

Leinster's RG Snyman hits a half century on Saturday

Kolisi also praised Leinster lock RG Snyman, who will earn a 50th Springbok cap this weekend.

"I’m really happy for him," he said.

"With everything he’s been through (injuries), he could have given up any time. Credit to the unions who stuck with him.

"Even when he wasn’t with the group, he was messaging us, supporting us.

"He’s one of the most talented guys in the squad. A big human being, hard to put down, and the way he offloads … we allow him to be who he is.

"He knows the team comes first, and that’s what makes this team special.

"I’m happy for him and his family, and hopefully we can make it special for him."

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Watch Ireland v South Africa in the Quilter Nations Series on Saturday from 4.30pm on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1

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