Ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship clash at Ellis Park, Kolisi spoke candidly about England's threat — and the respect runs deep. He singles out Curry as one of the toughest opponents he's faced since 2018, while firmly brushing aside questions about the Mbonambi racism controversy, saying he'd simply forgotten about it and that revisiting it would only pull focus from the game. More substantively, Kolisi pushes back on the favourites tag and offers a clear-eyed read of England's quality: their Six Nations results are a red herring, he argues — a side that nearly beat France in the final seconds and almost knocked the Boks out in Paris two years ago doesn't get written off. The lesson the Boks took from that semi-final is pointed: if your execution slips against England, they will punish you. Set-piece and kicking game, he says, will be the difference.
Kolisi on Curry, England's danger, and the 2023 semi-final lesson
Kolisi dismisses the favourites label, flags Curry as a standout adversary, and draws a direct line from the 2023 World Cup semi-final: sloppy execution against England gets punished. He sees their Six Nations form as largely irrelevant given how close they pushed France.
Boks remain top but All Blacks close gap to 2.90 points after Nations Championship opener
South Africa stay top of the World Rugby Men's Rankings at 93.94 points but New Zealand have cut the gap to 2.90 after beating France, while Scotland climb to equal their all-time high of fifth following a record 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba.
Nché injury concern headlining Bok casualty list ahead of Scotland clash at Loftus
Rassie Erasmus is sweating over the fitness of Ox Nché, Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and André Esterhuizen ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship match against Scotland at Loftus, after all four picked up injuries during or before the 45-21 win over England at Ellis Park.
Nations Championship Round 1: Boks set the benchmark, Japan turn heads
Louw's Nations Championship round-one review crowns the Boks as the weekend's benchmark-setters and flags Japan's Italy upset as the competition's first real surprise — while taking aim at the scheduling call that denies Japan a home fixture against Ireland.
Erasmus warns Boks: England bring youth, experience and tactical unpredictability to Ellis Park
Rassie Erasmus has praised England's touring squad as young, experienced and tactically unpredictable ahead of the Nations Championship opener at Ellis Park on 4 July, while Siya Kolisi returns as captain for a fixture that marked his first Test captaincy in 2018.
Erasmus eyes England with genuine respect — and a clear World Cup lens
Erasmus frames the Nations Championship opener against England as a World Cup rehearsal rather than a competition to chase on the log, while offering a candid, respectful read of Borthwick's squad and drawing a pointed comparison between Henry Pollock and Siya Kolisi.