Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi has dedicated his team’s stunning World Cup final victory over England to the South African nation.
Kolisi, South Africa’s first black rugby captain, led from the front as the Springboks landed a third world title following victories in 1995 and 2007.
“Since I have been alive I have never seen South Africa like this,” he said.
“It is easy to talk about going through hard times and struggling to get opportunities, but it is tough when there are days when you didn’t have food or couldn’t go to school or didn’t have shoes to wear,” Erasmus said.
“When you sit down and think about it, there was a stage when Siya didn’t have food to eat and, yes, that is the captain and he led South Africa to hold this cup and that is what Siya is.”
South Africa’s World Cup triumph has set up the 2021 Test series against the Warren Gatland-coached British and Irish Lions.
“When I took over, it was 618 days to the World Cup and we planned to win it,” Erasmus said.
“It is now 614 days to the British and Irish Lions and we will start planning now.”
