Siya Kolisi: I’ve never been so scared on a rugby field

Siya Kolisi says he was initially in “shock and freaking out” after an injury scare left him lying face down on the field in last Saturday’s brutal battle against the All Blacks.

During the second half of this past weekend’s final Rugby Championship clash, Kolisi took the ball into contact, but was left lying motionless on the ground after taking what appeared to be a knock to the head or neck area.

The medics rushed to the aid of Kolisi, who looked panicked as he communicated with the medical staff as a stretcher was called for.

In the end, the Springbok captain was able to walk from the field, but didn’t make his usual appearance at the post-match media conference as he was said to be feeling unwell.

Having just arrived back in South Africa, Kolisi was present at an event at the Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday, and he admitted the injury scare had initially left him rattled.

“I was so shocked and freaking out. I have never been so scared on a rugby field. I was getting so many messages afterwards, and obviously it was scary for [my wife] Rachel and everyone back home as well. But thankfully I am fine.

“I didn’t know where I got hit, I fell to the ground and my body was just in shock. The doc was asking me questions, and was examining me, but I’m claustrophobic and I just really felt uncomfortable.

“I couldn’t breathe and already was lying in an awkward position, but I was fine after about a minute. They did all the checks, I went for scans, and everything was fine. But in the moment it was really scary. I’ve never been so scared in a rugby game before. I thought there was something wrong with my whole body.”

After the game, Kolisi’s wife Rachel also shared on Instagram just how “scary and helpless” it had been to see the Bok flank go down in the manner he did.