Off the back of this Rugby World Cup win, Siya Kolisi’s life will never be the same.

He’s well on his way to becoming an international sporting superstar, but there are few people who have a better understanding of his rise to the top than Stormers and Springbok hooker, Scarra Ntubeni.

Scarra and Siya have known each other since they were 12, when they competed against one another at junior school level in the Eastern Cape, before both relocated to the Western Province Rugby Academy as 18-year-olds.

We’ve covered some of the wonderful stories related to Siya’s time at Grey PE, and now SA Rugby Mag has sat down with Scarra, who ran through how Siya the man, and Siya the professional, has changed over the years:

Siya, when I first met him, couldn’t speak English, but he could play rugby. His English improved because of his friend Nick Holton. Nick could speak Xhosa and he helped Siya massively in those early years and I know Siya improved Nick’s Xhosa. Nick played flyhalf for Grey and he has been a constant in Siya’s life and would count as one of Siya’s closest friends. Siya named his son Nicholas after Nick…

Siya, as a teenage player, was a superstar and strong attacker, but he wasn’t as committed to defence. He’d carry well at No 8, but on defence, he could have been standing at fullback. Back in the day, he was flippin’ lazy!

We joke a lot about those early days. Rugby came very easy to Siya and it may have contributed to his lack of discipline in his early years. He didn’t really have to fight for his place and it was only after he suffered a serious knee injury a few years ago and had to work really hard to get back that I saw the mental change in his makeup.

The Siya who joined me at the Academy as an 18-year-old and the Siya of four years ago was very different to the Siya of today. I don’t mean it in a negative way, but Siya’s character was very laid-back – he was the joker, the drinker and the party animal. He just happened to be a very good rugby player.

Scarra describes the temptations that come with living in Rondebosch and Newlands, where the student culture means there is always a jol to be found and lists a number of people who helped keep an eye on them during those years.

His biggest praise of all, though, is reserved for his wife, Rachel:

The most significant change with Siya came when he met (his wife) Rachael. She has defined his change from man-child into man. He adores her, puts her on a pedestal and has reformed his life since meeting her. He has taken on the responsibility of being the man of the house, a man of influence to teammates, friends and South Africans.

Since meeting Rachael, Siya has settled into a new phase of his life. He has retained his sense of humour and coolness, amid all the competitiveness, but he takes his family and his career very seriously…

I have such respect for the changes Siya has made in his life and it has shown in his leadership on the rugby field. Where he was once the joker in the pack, he is now the ace. He has matured a lot quicker than some of his mates.

A full six years after first being named in a Springbok squad, Scarra made his international debut against Argentina earlier this year, lining up alongside Siya.

The now World Cup-winning captain has grown into his leadership role, as reflected by a call he made in this year’s Super Rugby competition.

The Stormers, trailing by the Crusaders by three, won a late penalty, and Siya opted to take the points, and thus the draw. It was a hotly-debated call, both on and off the field:

He felt the additional point guaranteed from the draw would mean more than a possible extra two points from a try. There was no guarantee we would score from a kick to the corner and lineout maul.

A few of us felt differently and let him know in the change room afterwards. He put us in our place. It wasn’t in an ugly way but in a way that made a statement that he was in charge and that he was accountable for his decisions. He was stern but he also softened it by telling us we needed to relax and trust him being in charge. It was in that moment that I knew he had grown up big time.

There was perspective and there was calm.

Given what he has achieved over the past few months, Siya’s place amongst the Springbok greats is already secured.

When you consider that he is only 28, here’s hoping that the best is still to come.

You can read Scarra’s full account of growing up with Siya here.

By the way, if you want to relive the glory of the Rugby World Cup, analysed in great detail, watch this video.

[source:sarugbymag]