The inspirational Springboks forward returned from a serious injury in April to become only the second men's rugby captain in history, after the All Blacks’ Richie McCaw, to lead a team to back-to-back Rugby World Cup victories. Kolisi needed a full ACL reconstruction after he completely tore his anterior cruciate ligament in a match against Munster and there were fears he might miss the World Cup. Recovery can often take as long as nine months, but Kolisi was playing in 119 days. He had to endure long painful hours recovering from the injury behind closed doors and says his faith helped him to keep going.