Yokohama (Japan) (AFP)

When he waved the Webb-Ellis Cup, Siya Kolisi, South Africa's first black captain, became one of the symbols of the Springboks' transformation, more than twenty years after the end of apartheid.

The suit is heavy and Kolisi (1,86 m, 99kg) ended up wearing it. Since the beginning of the Japanese World Cup, he had been repeating that he did not consider himself a special captain.

"I'm just happy to be a captain, frankly, being the first black captain is not really something I think about, being captain of Sprinbgoks is a huge honor, I represent all of South Africa," he was simply insuring almost a month ago.

Saturday, trophy in hand, the third line (28 years, 50 selections) was once again modest, but he has crossed a course. With a unifying message, destined for a fragmented society and in crisis.

"We did it for South Africa, it shows that if we all pull in the same direction, we can achieve something," he said just after the final whistle.

"Since I was born, I've never seen South Africa like that, the coach explained to us: 'you do not play for yourself anymore, you play for everyone at home' and c is what we wanted to do, "he added.

Then, in the hour that followed, he finished splitting the armor. Far from ready-made answers since the beginning of the World Cup. Asked about the importance of the moment and his feelings when he waved the trophy, Kolisi, a rather shy man, had trouble finding the words.

- "incredibly special story" -

"Honestly, I could not explain what I went through, see the joy in the faces of my teammates, it was the best thing in the world, I know how hard we've all worked," he said. he told before praising his coach Rassie Erasmus, installed alongside him, who appointed him captain in June 2018.

If he did not find the words, other glorious elders emphasized the place taken by Kolisi.

"It's more than just a rugby match, it's an example, an experience for a new generation of spectators at home," former winger Bryan Habana, one of only two blacks to have participated in the conquest of the title in 2007.

"It's incredibly special to see a story like Siya's and the trip he's made in the last seven years," added the former glory.

Because, Kolisi went from the township to the roof of the world. The Stormers player grew up destitute, motherless, and hungry every day before earning a scholarship for the prestigious Gray High School, a high school that has trained many internationals.

And here he is standard bearer of the Springboks, who were long regarded as one of the symbols of apartheid politics (1948-early 90s) and banned for blacks and "colored".

- "A super leader" -

Saturday, South Africa had six black players at the kickoff. In the previous Springbok Awards in 1995 and 2007, they were only one and two respectively, while whites made up less than 10% of the South African population.

"For us, South Africans, rugby has really been a catalyst - of reconciliation, hope, inspiration and change - it's very important, and if you do not understand that, you can not understand our This is really good to see young players of color take center stage, "says Habana. And Kolisi is unanimous. "He's leading by example, he has so much pressure, so to be sure, as he did in such a win, for his 50th match, it just shows the kind of guy and player that it is," assured the scrum half Faf de Klerk.

"He's a great leader on and off the pitch, he's been through a lot of things," hooker Bongi Mbonambi said. "We can only congratulate him for never giving up." Like a symbol.

© 2019 AFP