Aphelele Fassi is thriving in Tony Brown’s attack and making good use of Willie le Roux’s veteran experience.
The 26-year-old Springbok fullback is set to earn his 11th Test cap when the world champions tackle Wales in Cardiff on Saturday to bring the curtain down on the 2024 season.
It marks his seventh appearance of the year in a campaign that has seen Fassi storm back into contention in the race to succeed Le Roux as South Africa’s first-choice fullback.
Le Roux has been left out of both the Bok match-day squads following his 98th Test cap, against Scotland earlier in the tour, and Fassi outlined the seasoned campaigner’s positive influence.
“It’s been great,” Fassi said. “We played two games, one was against the All Blacks in Joburg and then in Mbombela, and he was on the side of the field shouting commands, telling us what he sees and letting me know what’s happening on the field.
“One thing Coach Rassie always tells us is that everyone has a job to do, whether you are in the 23 or outside of the 23 and I think that relationship with me and Willie has been good.
“We understand the plan the Springboks are trying to bring in the near future.”
The Bok attack has been a hot topic of conversation since the arrival of assistant coach Brown and the implementation of a more expansive style of play.
This has benefitted Fassi, who has scored four of his six international tries for the Boks in the former All Blacks playmaker’s new system.
“I wouldn’t say it’s been a challenge,” Fassi answered, when asked about balancing his style and the demands of Test rugby.
“Tony has given us the freedom to attack space when we see space and opportunities, and then being able to have a balance in your game when you’ve lost momentum, and to be able to read what’s happening at a certain stage of the game based on where you are on the field.
“I think that’s how I operate – always trying to put my forwards onto the front foot, I think it’s just trying to have that balance between the kicking game and the attack.”
Photo: Will Russell/Getty Images
