Siya Kolisi brings calmness to Springboks' attacking breakdown when chaos wants to prevail
They normally go nuts when they see people breaking their spaghetti to 'fit' into a pot before cooking it. For Italians, it's sacrilege to break the pasta, use too much garlic or add ketchup to a dish.
They are the experts when it comes to creating great pasta and pizza dishes. They view the rest of the world's Italian cooking as pure chaos.
The Springboks feel the same way about the set-pieces and the breakdown in rugby. They are the masters of the physical elements of the game and the rest of the world, well, puts ketchup in their bolognese sauce.
But on Saturday we saw a second-string Italian team go head-to-head with the Bok team in the physical stakes in the first Test at Loftus Versfeld, where they were outstanding in disrupting the home side's flow.
They caused a lot of chaos at the breakdown when the Springboks were on attack, going really low in the tackle before slowing the ball down with some counter-rucking and street-smart rolling away. This led to the Boks having to commit more players into the rucks, because their cleanouts were rather ineffective.
Scrumhalf Morne van den Berg even had to try and protect the ball against the Italian stealers at some points in the game, which also didn't help with some of his clearing off the base.
It was clear the Springboks wanted to up the tempo, but the Italians stuck to their task and kept the Boks from really hitting their stride and blowing them away on the day.
But the Boks actually have a player sort out their attacking breakdown problems. But it seems like we're not going to see him anytime soon.
This week, for the second Test in Gqeberha, the Springboks will still be without their head chef when it comes to their attacking breakdown. The player who knows how to counter the dark arts and brings the parmesan cheese to make sure the Bok backs are served up a feast.
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Captain Siya Kolisi is still missing from the Springboks matchday line-up after missing the Springboks' first two matches against the Barbarians and Italy with a neck issue and an Achilles niggle.
As an openside, many people still rate Kolisi on the amount of steals he makes at the breakdown when the opposition has the ball. But Kolisi doesn't really play as a true opensider, but rather as a hybrid loosie, who can fulfil various roles.
The Springboks have plenty of players who can steal the ball at the breakdown, such as forwards Malcolm Marx, Jasper Wiese and centre Damian de Allende. But it's clear on Saturday that they needed someone who can look after the ball.
Kolisi's true value is actually protecting the Boks' ball on attack, by hitting multiple rucks when the South Africans are in possession. Over the last few years he has been used as a ball-carrier in the wide channels, but, as a No 6, making sure the Boks get clean, quick ball is his primary job.
The Springboks definitely missed his influence against Italy. The breakdown was total chaos and the Boks didn't seem to know how to respond to Italy flooding that area to slow down or steal their ball.
But Kolisi, whenever he gets back on the park, is going to bring that calmness and accuracy, which should allow the Bok team to create the platform for their dangerous outside backs to prosper.
For now, though, a player such as openersider Marco van Staden needs to fill Kolisi's void and try and prevent the Italians from causing more chaos in the Bay this weekend.
@JohnGoliath82
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