Siya Kolisi now has more Test wins as Springbok captain than anyone before him. South Africa’s 29–24 victory over New Zealand at FNB Stadium on 5 September 2026 took his tally to 55, passing John Smit’s record of 54.

The milestone came in a closely contested match in Soweto. With the teams level at 12–12 at half-time, the Springboks went on to secure a win, putting them 2–1 up in the four-Test series.

A captain sharing the credit

Asked about his achievement after the match, Kolisi pointed to coach Rassie Erasmus, the coaching staff and the other leaders in the squad.

“If this were tennis it would be different, but this is a team sport,” he told Modern Athlete.

He said rotating players helped keep the squad fresh and motivated, giving others opportunities to contribute. His explanation of the record focused on how the team worked together.

Soweto also gave the occasion a personal significance. Kolisi spoke about children running alongside the team bus and said the Springboks played for supporters who could not afford to attend matches, too.

Most wins, but not the highest winning percentage

Kolisi’s record is for the number of Test victories as captain. Winning percentage measures something different: how often a captain’s team wins across the matches they lead.

SABC Sport puts Kolisi’s winning percentage at 74.3%. Among Springbok captains who led at least 10 Tests, it ranks him behind Morné du Plessis at 86.7% and Joost van der Westhuizen at 80%. 

The Bottom Line

Even after setting the record, Kolisi said the Springboks could improve, particularly in defence. His attention was already on what the team could build on in the next match.