Former All Blacks captain names Cheslin Kolbe among rugby's all-time greats

The former All Blacks captain joined Suntory Sungoliath after the 2023 Rugby World Cup and has been training and playing alongside the double World Cup-winning Bok winger ever since.

The back-rower has played in teams with incredibly talented outside backs throughout his illustrious career, from the likes of James Lowe and Tim Nanai-Williams at the Chiefs to Will Jordan, Julian Savea, Corey Jane, Waisake Naholo and many more with the All Blacks.

"Would he be the most ridiculous feet you've ever come across?" Stephen Donald asked his fellow former All Black on The Aftermatch with Kirst & Beav show.

"Yeah, definitely," Cane confidently replied.

"It's one thing to watch him play on the weekend and be like, 'Yeah, he's a gun player'. But then to see him every week train is just phenomenal. Like he'd be up there with one of the greatest players of all time. Like what he is able to do is just pretty much unmatched.

"For his size too, a lot of the good small guys they just throw themselves into everything, and they're so strong and powerful - it doesn't matter if he's affecting a clean out making a tackle but the way he can jink. He scored tries at training where you just go no one else scores those - I've never seen tries like it. After a couple of years, guys are sort of like, 'It's just another Cheslin try at training'.

"But you think, this is amazing; he has just chipped over the line, chipped over the fullback, and scored. He is amazing."

While Cane spoke highly of Kolbe, he also reserved praise for Springbok players in general, saying that the South African changing room is one of the most welcoming after Test matches.

He has also gotten to know Kolbe and fellow Bok Jesse Kriel better during his time in Japan and revealed how Siya Kolisi goes the extra mile.

"I've played with Cheslin Kolbe for a few years at Suntory. They are all just such nice guys," he said.

"I had a bit to do with Jesse Kriel over the years, and he's at Canon, which is just down the road in Japan. So we'll go out for a few dinners throughout the year. But even like when we first came on the scene, I think I'm only a year or two older than Jesse, and he made the Springboks quite young also, so naturally, we're young fellas going into the change rooms, we'd sort of gravitate towards each other.

"Siya Kolisi has always been a guy who's made a lot of effort to form friendships off the field, even back when he was playing Stormers. He started an undie company; it can't have run for very long, but he dropped a few pairs off at the hotel - they make the effort."

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