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Cheslin Kolbe shocks rugby fans with latest vulgar display of versatility

Cheslin Kolbe of the Springboks competes for the high ball during The Rugby Championship match between Australia Wallabies and South Africa Springboks at Suncorp Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)

Cheslin Kolbe is the Springboks ‘magic maker’ – the hot-stepping try scorer. However, he continues to add new quivers to his bow and is now truly the ‘Swiss army knife’ of the South African team.

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Having filled in at scrumhalf before and occasionally slotted in at playmaker – apart from his usual try-scoring exploits on the wing – Kolbe became a line-out thrower in the Boks’ 33-7 demolition of the Wallabies in Brisbane at the weekend.

Back-to-back World Cup champions South Africa scored five tries to one as they crushed Australia in the opening match of the Rugby Championship.

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Feinberg-Mngomezulu explains how is stepped up into the flyhalf berth with such ease

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Feinberg-Mngomezulu explains how is stepped up into the flyhalf berth with such ease

After leading 21-0 at half-time with three converted tries, they crossed twice in the second period as the Wallabies ran out of steam in the face of a fierce South African assault.

However, one of the more intriguing moments was when Kolbe became the line-out thrower after replacement hooker Malcolm Marx was yellow-carded in the 66th minute.

Cheslin Kolbe

Even with loose forward Marco van Staden, a backup hooker at the World Cup last year, on the field, Kolbe stepped up to restart the game with a line-out throw.

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Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus revealed that Kolbe has been practising his line-out throwing, just in case one of the Boks’ hookers gets a yellow card.

“Marco [van Staden] can also throw in [at the line-outs],” he said of the loose forward, who was a backup hooker at the World Cup last year – after Marx’s knee injury in France.

“I helped Paul Treu coach the Sevens team and Cheslin was a great line-out thrower,” the Bok coach said.

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“We haven’t had a scrum yet and couldn’t put Bongi [Mbonambi] back on.”

It now begs the question: What is the next position Kolbe can fill in at?

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Lifting him as a line-out jumper is not too far-fetched and packing down on the flank might also not be too inconceivable.

Perhaps he can try prop?

On a serious note.

Kolbe, despite his diminutive size, is one of the Boks’ most valued ‘warriors’.

Meanwhile, Erasmus and captain Siya Kolisi were quick to point out it was not a perfect performance in Brisbane and they expected a strong backlash from the hosts in Perth.

“Next week is a new Test and we know [Wallaby coach] Joe Schmidt can turn things around,” said Erasmus.

“He’s only had four games with Australia, and next week is a new game and a new venue, and we are expecting a big challenge.”

Kolisi added: “Next week is going to be a completely different challenge and we know it will be tougher, so we need to remain focused and keep working hard.”

It was the Springboks’ first win at Lang Park since 2013 and only their fourth-ever victory in Brisbane.

They went into the match as the firm favourites, ranked No.1 globally compared with the Wallabies at No.9.

And it was soon clear where the ascendancy lay, with the Wallabies appearing stunned by the strength and size of the South African forward pack

Kolisi said the Springboks were determined to put their poor Australian record behind them.

“It was a big thing for us to win this game, we know this is a fortress for Australian rugby,” Kolisi said of their Brisbane drought.

“We prepared well and gave them the respect they deserved and I’m proud of the way the boys played.

“We know with these two matches we can’t win the championship, but these two matches could lose us the championship.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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