Siya Kolisi has admitted the nerves before Test matches remain as intense as they were when he first captained the Springboks eight years ago, insisting that losing those feelings would mark the end of his international career.
"I think when the nerves and the butterflies go, that's when it's your time to stop," Kolisi said ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship clash with England at Ellis Park. "I still feel the same as I felt in my first game. I'm always nervous."
The 35-year-old flanker, who first led South Africa against England at the same venue in 2018, has developed a pre-match routine to manage the pressure. "The closer I get to the game, I look for peace," he explained. "I just try to calm down because there's nothing you can do that will get you more prepared. I switch off and listen to my worship music just to calm myself because when you get closer to the game, you know you're going to have to switch on."
Kolisi also paid tribute to his opposite number Tom Curry, whom he described as "one of the toughest guys I've ever played against" and "a special human being". The pair have faced each other on several occasions, including the 2019 World Cup Final.
When asked about the 2023 World Cup semi-final incident involving Curry and Bongi Mbonambi, Kolisi appeared to have moved on entirely. "I don't know what you're talking about," he responded, before admitting he had "forgot about" the fallout. "Many things have gone by and it's a new game. For us, if you're going to be thinking about that then your mind wouldn't be on the game."
The Springbok captain dismissed suggestions his side were outright favourites despite home advantage and their world ranking. "We never walk into any match feeling like we're definitely going to win," Kolisi said. "We've seen what England have done in Tests before, and we know the form they're in, so we are in a strong mindset as a team."