Is Manie Libbok’s magical rise at the Stormers a better comeback story than Lappies Labuschagne’s Japanese reawakening?
Setting off on an expedition to track down rugby’s greatest tale of redemption, Labuschagne takes on Libbok in this poll series’ penultimate round.
After failed stints with the Bulls and Sharks, Libbok reinvented himself at the Stormers, growing in stature and poise that earned the playmaker three Springbok caps in 2022.
He made his first-class debut in 2016 after joining the Bulls academy, and was soon named in the Junior Springboks squad for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship, where he produced impressive performances.
Watch: Manie banks points for Boks
However, Libbok couldn’t live up to the hype generated by his Junior Boks exploits in 2016 and 2017, and after a spell of underwhelming form at the Bulls upon his return, he opted to move to Durban in 2020.
However, his tenure at the Sharks was another failure to launch and it was only after coach John Dobson recruited him to the Stormers that Libbok’s career as a senior professional took off.
He was sensational during the 2021-22 Vodacom URC as the Stormers powered to a maiden title in the debut tournament. Libbok finished the season as the competition’s top point-scorer, and later earned three Bok caps.
Growing in confidence this season, Libbok looks set to play another important role in the champions’ title defence and will be eyeing a Bok spot for the 2023 World Cup later this year.
Called up to the Springbok squad in 2013, Labuschagne never made it onto the field for South Africa, but continued to ply his trade for the Cheetahs and Bulls before heading off to Japan to join the Kubota Spears in 2016.
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In addition to playing for Kubota, where he made 41 appearances and scored two tries, Labuschagne also had a short stint of seven games with the Sunwolves in 2018.
After fulfilling World Rugby’s three-year residency law, Labuschagne became eligible to play for Japan, captaining the side on debut against Fiji in 2019, and a few months later at the RWC, he wore the armband in the Brave Blossoms’ famous pool stage victory over Ireland.
Lappies Labuschagné scored one of four tries in Japan's 30-10 victory over Russia in the #RWC2019 opener.
Both of the try scorers for the host-nation were born in South Africa.#JPNvRUS pic.twitter.com/HzgOQN9MYk
— SuperSport ? (@SuperSportTV) September 20, 2019
Photo: Twitter/@JRFURugby, @THESTORMERS