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Springbok star Libbok snubs French move

Libbok has a good chance of making the Springboks World Cup squad (Photo Andrew Matthews Getty Images)

Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok has turned down an opportunity to further his career in France and opted to extend his contract with the Stormers.

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It was reported by Sunday newspaper Rapport that Racing 92 was after the 26-year-old flyhalf as a replacement to Finn Russell.

But the lure of Cape Town was too strong and he decided to extend his contract with the Stormers until 2027.

Russell is joining English club Bath after the World Cup.

The Springbok had just one year left on his current contract with Western Province Rugby, which ends in 2024.

Libbok faced the media earlier in the week and spoke about his experience coming into the Springbok set-up and working with experienced players like Handré Pollard, Elton Jantjies and Willie le Roux.

“My first time coming into the camp, I was very nervous and didn’t know what to expect. But coming in this time round, obviously I know the environment now, I know the coaches and they know me,” Libbok said.

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“I get to work with world class coaches and I have improved and I have acquired skills that I can take back to the Stormers.

“Me and Damian play together at the Stormers and have played together since juniors, so we know each other quite well.

“Obviously Handre as well. He was at the Bulls at the time I was there and I played under Handre then. So we got to know each other very well. Since the Bulls days, I have learnt a lot from Handre.

“Willie also helps me a lot in the Bok set-up with the game. He helps with my decision making and to stay calm. I learn a lot from them as well as from coach [Mzwandile] Stick.

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“Guys like Handre and Elton have vast experience, and my focus is to learn as much as I can from them.” Libbok explained.

He spoke about the race to make the final World Cup squad, which will be announced by Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber on August 8.

“I just want to give it my all, put my best foot forward and try and make the World Cup squad.

“Everyone knows only 33 players will make the final squad and we are getting closer to the selection.

“I haven’t been to a World Cup, but it is something that we work towards as a group. That is the end goal. We can all just prepare for it.”

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Comments

1 Comment
B
Bob Marler 735 days ago

Good move by Manie. Worth more after a World Cup showing anyway. But mainly,


He’ll be developed well back at home for a season or two more. So much potential. I believe SA structures will get the best out of him.


Manie and Williams. #fanboy

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Mzilikazi 41 minutes ago
'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

I get where you are coming from,Om. And there was a case when that French under strength team came out to Australia. Cameron Woki picked at the base of a ruck and jumped/dived over. That would clearly now be penalised.


But the Sheehan try is different to my eye. It starts from a tap penalty, he drives forward, the two WB defenders go low for a tackle in the assumption Sheehan will go to ground. He does not, but seeing the hole now left dives through it. In this case surely there is zero danger there.


Both WB heads are well clear below. There would have been far more danger had Sheehan also dropped low, as he had done on one, or was it two occasions in the game.


I just can’t see his movement as a jump. There is virtually no vertical element, it is say only 5% upwards. Surely at 95% horizontal, that won’t be penalised, not even seriously looked at ?


“It is different to the sideline touchdown on the wing”. You are the only person in hundreds of posts I have read who brings that up. I have been thinking of that as well, but not commented till now prompted by you. And you are correct, it is in most cases very different, being a side on tackle, not head on. But still, it is often more a jump than a dive. I would not advocate for penalising…..some wonderful tries scored that way, and the danger element is generally not excessive, at least not for head injuries.

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T
TL 2 hours ago
'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

I agree, the comparison to Rassie in 2021 is unfair. Schmidt despite being highly emotional was scrupulous in not making it a personal grudge match, and in the circumstances I think he behaved in a decent way. What Rassie did was unhinged and extreme. Why fudge the two together? It’s much more common for coaches to do what Joe did, and it was unusual for him, he resisted efforts of journo’s to get him talking about the cards that weren’t in Test 1. He’s taken exception in this instance, if he was doing it all the time I’d dismiss it, but he’s got some cred so I take it a little more seriously when he speaks up.


Otherwise Mr Bishop/ Nick you have yet again proven your acumen as a selector and tactician this series, making calls before not after the event, like any good analyst would. Schmidt was cruelled by injuries this series, more than was apparent initially. In both games injuries to Bobby V and Skelton’s fitness hampered the WBs, and Gleeson in Test 1, and Noah before, and JAS leading in. Picking TT would have been a huge risk after SR form, but yes, seems like it would have been worth taking in hindsight and many were suggesting before. We just don’t have the depth for that not to make a big impact. But Joe seems to have put his chips on Williams as long termer and is investing in him, like he did players in Ireland, when Williams is yet to deliver in this series (although the lineout has been solid when he’s on). Perhaps his time will come. JAS defence is perhaps the biggest issue as Nick you’ve pointed out now on multiple occasions. I just get flummoxed myself thinking about it, as any solution creates another problem, perhaps he just needs time and it just had to be this way….At the very least we need an A/B test and see what the experiment uncovers.


As an Australian I stick to the paradoxical blend of unrealistic optimism and fatalism in reflecting on these decisions that has at once been the blessing and cruse of our culture historically.

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