Kolisi bats away Player of the Year talk

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Springbok captain Siya Kolisi says his focus is far away from a potential World Rugby Player of the Year award after his excellent performances in 2021.

Having led the Boks to a 2-1 series win over the British & Irish Lions, Kolisi’s performances have merited talk of a nomination and potential winning of World Rugby’s coveted 2021 Player of the Year award.

It has been a particularly impressive turnaround for the Bok skipper, given his injury struggles in 2020.

However, Kolisi said, prior to the Test against Scotland, that the award – which would see him succeed teammate Pieter-Steph du Toit, who won it in 2019 – is very far from his mind.

“I don’t look too much into those things,” said Kolisi. “You have to be able to take in the good and bad stuff that’s said by people outside, but I decided not to read into those things.

“What’s most important to me are these coming games, especially the one this weekend.

“If people think like that of me, I am obviously happy, but I have to perform in these two matches. Saturday’s match is very important and for the last one against England [we want to end on a high note].

“I’ll focus on those things when the season is done. I don’t have the time to think about [awards] right now.”

Having claimed the win at Murrayfield, the Springboks will travel to London on Sunday to prepare for the final match of the 2021 season against Eddie Jones’ England at Twickenham.

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Dylan Jack