What has happened to Aphelele Fassi?

There was a time when Willie le Roux had more detractors than supporters. His nadir came after South Africa’s narrow win over Wales in the 2019 World Cup semi-final. Playing with an injured arm, the Springboks fullback regularly dropped the ball in a slugfest of a match. After his name was dragged through the mud on social media and in the press, he chose to throw himself on top of a metaphorical hand grenade.

He did the unthinkable and told his coach, Rassie Erasmus, that he would accept being dropped for the World Cup final. Clearly he had allowed the outside noise to seep into his consciousness. Erasmus was having none of it and instead organised a video analysis session with the entire team present.

Erasmus showed the squad that more often than not, the final pass delivered for a try scorer was provided by le Roux. And if the fullback wasn’t playing the assist then he was the one who was sparking the move. Time and again, le Roux, more than any other Springbok, was igniting the backline into action.

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This was all revealed in the first season of Chasing the Sun, and ever since, le Roux’s star has continued to rise. Now evern casual rugby fans appreciate his subtle contributions. One could even make the case that le Roux has been the most important Springbok of the Erasmus era.

Which brings us to the present day. Erasmus has said that he intends to shepherd le Roux to 100 Test caps before sending him out to pasture. He’s just two away. A potential home series against Italy next year could be his swan song. After that, a new dawn will break for South African rugby.

Damian Willemse, the man who started the 2023 final and became a walking meme when he called for a scrum off a mark against France in the quarterfinals, is the incumbent. Versatile, skilful, strong in contact and a fluent distributor, he would play every game that mattered if he was fit. Not that he has much competition. The stocks in the backfield are thin. At least that was the assumption at the start of this year.

In December 2023, when Aphelele Fassi spoke exclusively to Rugbypass, the then 25-year-old had just three Test caps to his name and all on the wing. He had earned the nickname of ‘Weekend Special’ in honour of a famous song of the same name by Brenda Fassie. He had a reputation of not working hard during the week and only showing an interest in rugby come game-day.

This reputation was evidenced by his shortcomings on the pitch. He was a liability on defence, struggled under the high ball and failed to create links with ball in hand. A clearly gifted athlete, he had all the raw ingredients to cut it at the elite level. But did he have the drive and desire to tick the boxes that needed ticking?

We now have our answer. This year he has started eight of South Africa’s 13 Tests. He’s worn the number 15 jersey in each of them and, though he hasn’t been perfect, he’s more than held his own. In fact, over the course of the year, he has been one of the most improved players in the world game.

Back in June, in a tune-up against Wales in London, he plucked high balls from the skies above Twickenham with the surety of a seasoned veteran. And although he was yellow-carded for jutting a dangerous boot out as he claimed a catch, the signs were there that he’d added an important string to his bow.

He missed out on the home series against Ireland. Le Roux assumed the number 15 jersey with the impressive Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu catapulting up the ranks and onto the bench. But neither of them has what Fassi has and there’d be more opportunities down the road.

Fassi started against Portugal and then against Australia in Brisbane where he scored a try. He again started against New Zealand in Johannesburg where his improvements on defence were made apparent. And with Willemse out injured, he started both Tests against Argentina as the Springboks won the Rugby Championship.

But could he distribute like le Roux? Did he appreciate when to stick or twist and when to join the line to offer an extra set of hands? Did he have the range to conduct the orchestra?

Against England, in a strategic arm wrestle of a Test, one which required composure from both fullbacks, he collected a midfield pass from Damian de Allende, accelerated through a half-gap and unfurled a delicious ball for Kurt-Lee Arendse screaming down the left touchline. This was link-up play of the highest order. Only a marginal forward-pass call ruled out what would have been a blockbuster try-assist.

All at once South African rugby fans woke up to the possibility that this lanky lad with strong legs and a quick step could be more than just a bruiser in the backfield. Here was nous and a delicate touch. Would le Roux be sorely missed after all? Would Willemse have competition for that 15 jumper?

Against an admittedly limited Wales outfit we saw Fassi in free flow. There he was at second receiver, orchestrating moves after collecting zipping passes from his fly-half inside him. Then he was in the back-field, launching counter attacks with zig-zapping feet. Then he was prowling, picking the right moment to join an attack on the search of an edge. His sixth try of the year, the finishing touch on a sparkling move, was just reward for an all-round effort that underlined his development.

His kicking from hand needs work. He often seems to leave too much on the ball and on that front he is a long way short of le Roux and Willemse. But he is possibly more secure under the high ball than either of his competitors and would certainly win a foot race against them.

“Two, three years ago, the chat was that Aphelele has everything,” Erasmus said. “But when it came to the physical edge, maybe on defence and going to the breakdown [he was lacking]. He took the criticism on the chin and worked on it. He hasn’t lost that flair, he’s brilliant in the air.

“Guys are helping him. Damian Willemse is in the mix, Willie is helping. I think it’s good competition. But he also took a little bit of a beating [physically] in the beginning [of his career] and he’s not doing that anymore. He’s a well-rounded player.”

Of all the evolutions that have taken place at the Springboks this year, Fassi’s is the most remarkable.