Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'When have you last seen a South African 10 like that?': Exciting Stormers flyhalf hailed

(Photo By Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

South Africa’s teams completed a four from four sweep of their European rivals in the latest round of the United Rugby Championship, with Welsh, Scottish and Irish teams all falling to defeat in their fixtures.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ospreys, who were fielding a strong side full of Welsh internationals, were dismantled in Cape Town by a slick Stormers outfit by 29-13. The ball skills of Stormers players were on show as left wing Leolin Zas scored a brace, including a brilliant chip chase recovery in the second half.

Former Welsh international Tom Shanklin said the South African Sevens programme has played a part in developing attacking players with serious speed for the South African teams, including the likes of Seabelo Senatla who was on the right wing against Ospreys.

Video Spacer

RugbyPass Offload | Episode 29

We hear about his early days playing in New Zealand before moving to Wasps and eventually lining out for England. He gives us an incredible insight into life under Eddie Jones and Pat Lam, why he left Bristol for Bath and his aspirations to line out for Fiji. Lots more including his introduction to Lawrence Dallaglio, his run-in with Ryan Wilson when England played Scotland and his England debut versus the Boks.

Video Spacer

RugbyPass Offload | Episode 29

We hear about his early days playing in New Zealand before moving to Wasps and eventually lining out for England. He gives us an incredible insight into life under Eddie Jones and Pat Lam, why he left Bristol for Bath and his aspirations to line out for Fiji. Lots more including his introduction to Lawrence Dallaglio, his run-in with Ryan Wilson when England played Scotland and his England debut versus the Boks.

“I think the South African Sevens plays a massive part,” Tom Shanklin said of the Stormers’ threats on Premier Sports post-match wrap.

“A lot of Sevens players in that back line. Especially the back three players, they don’t need much space to finish off tries, they know how to beat defenders one-on-one and they can finish from wherever, really.”

The Stormers outside backs included current Springbok Damian Willemse at fullback, flanked by Zas and Senatla on the wings. Former Blue Bulls product Manie Libbok impressed at flyhalf pulling the strings for the Cape side.

Libbok’s performance was dynamic, breaking open Ospreys twice in the first half against seemingly short odds. He used footwork to slip past three Ospreys defenders before drawing the fullback to put scrumhalf Paul De Wet under the posts for the opening try and almost repeated the same outcome a second time half an hour into the game.

ADVERTISEMENT

The talented 24-year-old has bounced around three South African clubs, coming through the Bulls academy system before spending two seasons at the Sharks behind Curwin Bosch. He is starting to hit his stride after moving to the Stormers last year.

When asked whether he would be a future Springbok, Shanklin believed so based on what they had just witnessed.

“I think so. Just the way he attacks the line, his footwork, he scares defences as well,” Shanklin praised.

ADVERTISEMENT

“He only needs a half a gap to get through, he’s got pace and acceleration so when the space opens up, he can go through.

“You just can’t lay a hand on him because he has that pace.”

Welsh rugby commentator Sean Holley said it was ‘very rare’ to see a South African flyhalf play the way Libbok has been, offering an attacking game that has been missing from the national side for some years.

“When have you last seen a South African 10 like that? It’s very rare, isn’t it? ” Holley asked of Shanklin.

“They like to sit in the pocket and send the ball up, and that sorta suits the way South Africa want to play, but with a guy like this, if you get him involved with the Springboks, all of a sudden, you’ve got a different outlook for how South Africa might play,” Shanklin replied.

“They might play more width, they might be more creative.”

“I agree, we might see him in the Summer,” Holley concluded, referring to Wales’ upcoming three test tour of South Africa.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 1 hour ago
Did the best of Ireland leave with Johnny Sexton and Stuart Lancaster?

Certainly got lucky, their strike rate in recruits is simply to high to be another else. How many failures can you count off the top of you head?


Theyre no longer playing that attack structure, so kinda irrelevant I feel. Sexton's metronomic tempo was perfect for that sort of football though. I really shouldn't say anything disparaging about his ability and influence on a northern style as he's probably a much closer footballer to the great Dan Carter than the modern NZ tens are. Still feel the game is better off in the NH now that players like Smith and Ntamack are able to lead the way with their performances.


I suggest not falling into that trap of replacing someone. They don't need a Sexton at 10, that guy and influence can come from anywhere in the team. Wallace Sititi for example has done so much to flip the debate on the NZ midfielders needing to have Nonu/Smith level distribution. They're trying to transition their game into a fast contest, ala their two victories against SA, but also losing out on that against SA and England (possible NZ too). Nienaber being seen as more beneficial to that outcome than Lancaster. I too think they're wrong though, it was a gift Faz got provided with but I haven't seen the Irish psyche want to recognize that. Some might say it's disrespectful to credit all of Irelands success on the back of a fortuitous style of play they discovered (were gifted, w/e) but I'll tell anyone that that's all New Zealands success is based off, and if a more natural organically grown pressuring style it's still something that is ingrained on everyones instincts just the same and can easily be lost of not appreciated.

201 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING All Blacks XV player ratings vs Georgia | Autumn Nations Series All Blacks XV player ratings vs Georgia
Search