Test Debut vs Scotland – Mbombela Stadium, June 2013
On 15 June 2013 in Mbombela, just a day before his 22nd birthday, a fresh-faced Kolisi took his place on the bench for Heyneke Meyer’s Boks in their second fixture of that year’s quadrangular series, which also featured Samoa, Italy, and their opponents that day, Scotland.
The Springboks were coming off a convincing 44–10 win over Italy in Durban, a match that also marked the debut of another future centurion, Willie le Roux. Dressed in one of the Boks’ most memorable kits, a sleek white strip with neon-green Canterbury accents, Meyer’s men were widely expected to ease past a Scottish side missing stars Richie Gray, Sean Maitland, and Stuart Hogg, all on tour with the British & Irish Lions.
Kolisi, wearing number 20, might have anticipated a late cameo. Instead, fate intervened.
Just over four minutes in, an injury to flanker Arno Botha saw the young Stormers loose forward thrust into action far earlier than planned.
He didn’t disappoint. Translating his red-hot Super Rugby form seamlessly to the international stage, Kolisi made a series of electric carries and ferocious tackles that immediately caught the eye. South Africa went on to win 30–17, with the Grey High School alumnus deservedly named Man of the Match the start of a journey that would see him become a fixture in every Bok squad since.
50th Test vs England – Yokohama Stadium, Rugby World Cup Final, 2 November 2019
Remarkably, Kolisi’s 50th cap came in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, against England, a match etched permanently into South African sporting history.
The Boks entered the contest as underdogs, with Eddie Jones’ England fresh off a dominant semi-final win over the All Blacks. But what followed was a Rassie Erasmus masterclass. Kolisi and his men dismantled England with trademark intensity, outmuscling and outthinking their opponents to secure a 32–12 victory and South Africa’s third World Cup title, equalling New Zealand’s record at the time.
Kolisi racked up 13 tackles and showcased his trademark composure and leadership before making way for Francois Louw in the 64th minute. The enduring image of Kolisi lifting the Webb Ellis Cup, the first black captain to do so became a defining moment not only for South African rugby, but for the nation as a whole.
100th Test vs France – Stade de France, 8 November 2025
This weekend in Paris, Kolisi will stride out at the Stade de France to join one of the most exclusive clubs in South African rugby the centurions. The list includes legends like Eben Etzebeth, Victor Matfield, Bryan Habana, Tendai Mtawarira, John Smit, Jean de Villiers, Percy Montgomery, and Willie le Roux.
Having already captained his country to back-to-back World Cup titles, a British & Irish Lions series win, and two Rugby Championship triumphs, Kolisi’s 100th Test is not merely another statistic, it’s a symbol of sustained excellence, resilience, and leadership at the highest level.
A victory over France, the same side the Boks edged out in that unforgettable 2023 quarterfinal, would make the milestone even sweeter, further cementing Kolisi’s place as one of the greatest to ever don the green and gold.