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7 hours ago
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The general view in South Africa is that England do not fully understand what they are up against. To be a Springbok is to represent the hopes and dreams of millions and feel a uniquely powerful force. Siya Kolisi must have been taken aback, consequently, to be approached after a Test at Twickenham by a young English opponent seeking to arrange a chat on the subject of racial unity.
The curious Englishman was the Northampton forward Alex Coles, a player far removed from the average rugby jock. The son of two Church of England vicars – his mum, Olivia, writes her sermons on a Friday so she can attend his Saturday matches – he is a similarly firm believer in having a purpose in life beyond the weekend’s result.
With a degree in politics, philosophy and history followed by a law conversion and, at present, a masters course in sports law – “Maybe in the future I’ll end up representing Henry Pollock if he does something wrong...” – Coles’ sporting prowess is not his only forte.
Tackling big ideas – as well as big human beings – does not faze him in the slightest. “In my dissertation for my undergraduate degree I looked at whether South Africa’s recent World Cup wins had any impact on race relations,” he says. “The famous 1995 victory and Nelson Mandela’s presence was seen as a big moment for unifying the country. I wanted to see if there has been a similar effect following recent results and found some evidence of that. It’s really interesting to look into it and see how important that sport is for that country as a whole. It’s fascinating.”
Which is why, having won his third cap for England in the autumn of 2022, he sought Kolisi’s first-hand testimony. “He wouldn’t have known who I was but he agreed and kindly gave me 30 minutes of his time. So I’ve got some of his quotes in there. It just really re-emphasised to me how much [representing South Africa] means to them. It’s a massive focus of collective and individual pride for those players. When you play South Africa you know they’re going to be well up for it.”
As it turned out the examiners weren’t entirely bowled over – “I didn’t get as good a mark as I’d have liked. Maybe we’ll send it back” – but England unquestionably have a smart cookie at the heart of their pack in the absence of their rested skipper, Maro Itoje. The 26 year-old does not always dominate the limelight à la Pollock but his all-round contribution as a shrewd lineout operative and galloping presence around the field has been increasingly prominent.
In the season just gone, Saints did not lose a single Prem game in which Coles featured. He was also influential in the final win over Exeter, to no one’s surprise. “I think he’s been brilliant for England as well,” says Phil Dowson, Northampton’s director of rugby. “The way he thinks about the game is different. He’s incredibly driven, incredibly smart and consistent. If you get those three things together it allows you to do a pretty good job.”
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Coles says his parents – his father, Alasdair, is a consultant neurologist and honorary chaplain at Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridge – have contributed to his own inner drive. “At the moment I don’t have that religious purpose but I see in their lives that sense of ‘something else’ that you’re driving towards and gives you meaning. It’s so powerful. I’m not trying to compare rugby to that but it’s always been very important to find a purpose in my life.”
Winning the domestic Prem title with Northampton was the latest step along that road and Saturday’s encounter with Kolisi and the hard-edged Boks will reveal exactly how far he still has to go. “You always have the belief you can do it but the more experience you get helps add credence to that belief. I’ve just got to keep trying to develop my game and show what I can do when I get a chance, rather than trying to be someone else.”
Another stepping stone was a trip to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco in April where he could rest his body and mind after a gruelling few months. “There wasn’t some deep awakening but it was beautiful there. From the outside you wouldn’t realise how important those rest weeks are sometimes. I’d basically played in most of the games for Saints and England and I was pretty physically and mentally screwed.
“That England [Six Nations] campaign, especially, was really tough. We put a lot of physical, mental and emotional energy into that and then to get those results and the reaction … I get why the noise was there but it does drain you. The injury was a bit of a blessing in disguise in that sense … I’d had a decent run of games and being a forward it’s attritional stuff. I’m definitely feeling more fresh towards the end of the year.”
He is ready and willing to front up to the muscular challenge posed by the Boks. “One of my big ‘whys’ is having something competitive to go after. A goal, a purpose. That’s really important for me. It adds a meaning to life. I don’t want to go from day to day just treading water. It’s nice having something on the line. That gets you out of bed in the morning.”
Could it be the turn of the Educator, one of his nicknames at Northampton, to teach Kolisi and co something new this weekend? The Coles family will not be alone in saying a quiet prayer to that effect.
