"Rugby was definitely an escape for me, for not getting trapped into criminal activities, drug abuse," Kolbe said.<\/p>\n
Stan Sport is the only place to\u00a0watch\u00a0every match of<\/em><\/strong> The Rugby Championship<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, continuing\u00a0on Saturday with\u00a0All Blacks\u00a0vs Springboks and Wallabies vs Pumas –\u00a0live, extended and ad free.\u00a0Start your seven day free trial\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>here!<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n "Because where I grew up that was an every day thing that happened. Most of my mates from a young age are all guys that have completely taken the wrong route.<\/p>\n "I've lost a few of them due to being part of gangsters, gangsterism."<\/p>\n The pint-sized 27-year-old will miss South Africa's 100th Test against New Zealand tomorrow as he continues to rehab a leg injury sustained in training.<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Wallabies prankster accused of 'crime against Queen'<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Rugby's controversial 15 minute training limit<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Fit again Wallabies star returns in new role<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The electric playmaker was sorely missed in the two losses to Australia.<\/p>\n Kolbe has a happy knack of stepping up in the biggest moments and was a try-scorer in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final against England.<\/p>\n "I'll be honest, the night before I couldn't sleep," Kolbe told Horan, a two-time RWC winner.<\/p>\n For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/em><\/strong> clicking here!<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n "I was just excited, I was nervous because I never pictured myself being part of the Springboks, firstly, and representing South Africa on the highest stage at the Rugby World Cup and in the final. There's no better feeling than experiencing, literally winning the World Cup and being there to celebrate it.<\/p>\n "The moment we landed in South Africa at OR Tambo in Johannesburg, man, I've never seen so many people waiting at an airport and just wanting to cheer us on and welcome us back home. Everybody was together, everybody was having a good time, tears were rolling around the place, the smiles were spreading everywhere.<\/p>\n "What we wanted as Springboks was just to unite the whole country and just give a bit of hope to a lot of people and show them through difficult times that whenever you put in the hard work that you can definitely reach the top."<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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