There was banter throughout the game - Siya to Jaden’s critics

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi may not be the official skipper of the Hollywoodbets Sharks but his standing as a leader and player makes him someone that needs to be listened to - and he was very forthright on the storm in a teacup that has erupted around Jaden Hendrikse.


The Sharks and Bok scrumhalf has been vilified in some sections of the overseas media and social media for what some rather bizarrely see as a feigned cramping issue during the high tension penalty shootout that followed the Sharks’ 24-all extra time draw in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against Munster.

The only Munster directly player embroiled in the supposed stand off with Hendrikse was their first choice kicker Jack Crowley, who nailed both of his kicks, so a lot of the frothy over the incident just seems bizarre.

Clearly there was no impact on the result - it was Rory Scannell, who was far away from Hendrikse and had already missed his kick when the Sharks No 9 cramped, who erred.

Rugby needs heroes and villains and people talking about it.. so I actually wish that moment was even more high profile.

Jaden Hendrikse played his part, love it or hate it pic.twitter.com/lss2MhVRbU

— Grant Constable (@GrantConstable) May 31, 2025

Nonetheless, the backlash and chatter over the incident has continued unabated, even though former Bok coach Jacques Nienaber, who has coached both in Ireland and in South Africa, weighed in quite effectively on the issue when he said that the Irish players “are master sledgers”.

'IT WAS GOOD FOR RUGBY'

Kolisi appears to agree, for he confirmed that there was a lot of banter throughout the Hollywoodbets Kings Park match, which wasn’t out of kilter with what normally happens in big games at that level of the rugby.

And he believes that the heat that was generated amidst the drama of a finish quite unlike any he had ever been part of was good for rugby.

“I thought last weekend was really exciting, I hadn’t been part of a finish like that before and it was good for rugby,” said Kolisi.

“It is pretty amazing how everyone is now talking about it, how rugby was brought into focus by what happened (at Kings Park). People are talking about it, supporters are sending each other messages. During the game everyone was on the edge of their seats, and it was very heated, which is what people want. That is good for rugby.”

TELLS CRITICS TO 'GET OVER IT'

What is also good for rugby is players being allowed to be themselves and to be able to express themselves without being boxed.

That is where he came up for his teammate Hendrikse. He told critics of Hendrikse to “Get over it”.

“We stand completely with Jaden. Jaden is competitive and there had been banter throughout the game,” said Kolisi.

“It’s normal and these things happen. People can say what they like, but there was banter between two players and that’s all there is to it. Jaden knows that we back him all the way. You can see that he cramped, there was definitely cramping.

“People must just get over it. It’s rugby, it’s entertainment. That’s what the fans want. Players want to celebrate, do what they do and be themselves, and we’ve all got our own ways of dealing with stuff on the field.

“Come on, we can’t box each other and all be the same. We’re not robots, we’re human beings. Sometimes we will take it and sometimes we will give it.”

He echoed his former coach Nienaber in reminding everyone that there were players in the opposition line-up who had given it in the past, which is correct.

Peter O’Mahoney, who played his last game for Munster in Durban, was renowned during his career for his sledging of the opposition.

Such as when in the 2017 British and Irish Lions series he told All Black flanker Sam Cane that he was just “a s*** Richie McCaw”.

McCaw of course being the celebrated wearer of the All Black No 7 jersey that Cane inherited when he retired.