{
  "id": 3969580,
  "title": "‘It’s the battles in your mind you have to overcome,’ says Kolisi about injury return",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/its-the-battles-in-your-mind-you-have-to-overcome-says-kolisi-about",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-28T13:28:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/rugby/battles-in-mind-overcome-siya-kolisi/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Springbok captain Siya Kolisi is set to lead his team against the All Blacks in the second Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Test at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday. The 35-year-old has had to overcome several injuries throughout his career, but remains optimistic about his future in the sport. Kolisi emphasized that the mental battles players face when dealing with injuries are more challenging than the physical ones. He cited the example of teammate Pietie Pieter-Steph du Toit, who has had two ACL injuries and nearly lost his leg, but still managed to captain his hundredth Test match. Kolisi believes that having people around him who believe in his ability to overcome obstacles is crucial for staying positive during such difficult times. If his playing career were to end prematurely, Kolisi stated he wouldn't be concerned, as he trusts the younger players coming through the ranks to fill the void he would leave behind. He praised Paul de Villiers as an example of a promising young player who has already shown great potential. With coach Rassie Erasmus consistently prioritizing the well-being of the team, Kolisi expressed confidence in his ability to return and contribute to the Boks' success.",
  "summary": "Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will hope to make a big impact on his return from injury against the All Blacks on Saturday.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}