Ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship clash at Ellis Park, Kolisi used his pre-match press conference to deliver a pointed message about England's danger — and it wasn't performative modesty. Despite South Africa's home advantage and world ranking edge, he pushed back hard on favourites talk, pointing to the 2023 World Cup semi-final as a live lesson: England nearly knocked the Boks out precisely because the execution wasn't there. His warning was specific — set-pieces, kicking game, aerial contest — and he noted that England's indifferent Six Nations run means little given how close they came to beating France in their final match. On the Curry-Mbonambi racism incident from that 2023 semi-final, Kolisi claimed he'd forgotten about it entirely and moved on quickly, framing any backward-looking mindset as a mental liability ahead of a Test match. His praise for Curry — a rivalry going back to 2018 — was genuine and effusive, but the sharper read here is Kolisi's consistent refusal to let confidence shade into complacency.
Kolisi's England warning: 'If we don't pitch up, we're going to be in trouble'
Kolisi's pre-match presser doubles as a tactical warning: the 2023 World Cup semi-final taught the Boks that England will punish any lapse in execution, and he's not letting home advantage or rankings paper over that lesson.
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.
England hammered at Ellis Park — and Borthwick's excuses are running out
A forensic post-mortem on England's Ellis Park thrashing — Borthwick's discipline crisis laid bare, Erasmus's halftime reset explained, and the uncomfortable reality that a depleted Bok side didn't need to come close to full power to blow England away.