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'Get paid Lionel Messi money': Springbok centre deserving of riches

(Photo by Richard Huggard/Gallo Images)

Outside centre Lukhanyo Am has been one of the best defenders in the game since becoming the number one option for the Springboks during the 2018 June test series against England.

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The Sharks midfielder has flourished under Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber’s high pressure system, where Am’s talents in contact and over the ball have been critical for the Springboks.

He set the tone for the Springboks in the opening British & Irish Lions test by putting a heavy shot of England centre Elliot Daly, a tackle that former players suggest had put the Lions into a shell for the rest of the series.

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Handre Pollard speaks about criticism of Springboks playing style

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Handre Pollard speaks about criticism of Springboks playing style

He was at it again in the Springboks second test over Argentina, coming up with a miraculous try saver on the goal line to steal away a certain try for the Pumas.

WIth time up on the clock the Pumas had a break down the left touchline by Juan Martin Gonzalez. Am began the pursuit but then switched over to cover the inside pass when the Springbok cover defender looked to have Gonzalez covered.

The inside pass bounced off Santiago Carreras’ shoulder, allowing Am to snatch it and save the would-be try.

Am was described as ‘the world’s best 13’ that ‘deserved to play in Europe and get paid Lionel Messi money’, after his form over the last month has continued his stellar 17-test career.

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Another described the ‘absolute lynchpin in defence’ as an early contender for World Player of the Year award after his Lions series and first two games against the Pumas.

Once part of a two-centre tandem with Jesse Kriel, Am has become an 80-minute player for the Springboks in 2021. He played all 240 minutes against the Lions, before being rested last week.

Back in the top side for the second Pumas test, Am put another 80-minute performance and was still making big plays in the last period of play.

Despite Am’s save, the Pumas got another chance to score in extra time when they received a penalty after the Springboks continued to play on.

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Kicking to the corner, the Pumas mauled down to two-metres out before barging over through Pablo Matera three phases later.

The Springboks were in search of a third try that would have given them the three-try bonus point in the Rugby Championship, but ended up conceding one at the other end.

“We weren’t disappointed to concede the try,” said head coach Jacques Nienaber after the game.

“Maybe ten years ago I wouldn’t have said that, but we were going for the bonus point try and we told the guys to go for the big defensive reads and take chances.

“If we had got the bonus point try it would have been worth it. We were in a position where we could go for it, so it wasn’t a risk.”

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J
JW 21 minutes ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

This piece is nothing more than the result of revisionist fancy of Northern Hemisphere rugby fans. Seeing what they want to see, helped but some surprisingly good results and a desire to get excited about doing something well.


I went back through the 6N highlights and sure enough in every English win I remembered seeing these exact holes on the inside, that are supposedly the fallout out of a Felix Jones system breaking down in the hands of some replacement. Every time the commentators mentioned England being targeted up the seam/around the ruck or whatever. Each game had a try scored on the inside of the blitz, no doubt it was a theme throughout all of their games. Will Jordan specifically says that Holland had design that move to target space he saw during their home series win.


Well I'm here to tell you they were the same holes in a Felix Jones system being built as well. This woe is now sentiment has got to stop. The game is on a high, these games have been fantastic! It is Englands attack that has seen their stocks increase this year, and no doubt that is what SB told him was the teams priority. Or it's simply science, with Englands elite players having worked towards a new player welfare and management system, as part of new partnership with the ERU, that's dictating what the players can and can't put their bodies through.


The only bit of truth in this article is that Felix is not there to work on fixing his defence. England threw away another good chance of winning in the weekend when they froze all enterprise under pressure when no longer playing attacking footy for the second half. That mindset helped (or not helped if you like) of course by all this knee jerk, red brained criticism.

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