Kolisi hails ‘general’ Libbok

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Siya Kolisi brushed off concerns around Manie Libbok’s goalkicking after the flyhalf missed three shots at goal for the Boks against Scotland on Sunday.

Tries from Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kurt-Lee Arendse steered the Springboks to a 18-3 victory to open their World Cup campaign in Marseille.

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While it did not affect the result in the end, the issue of Libbok’s goalkicking consistency raised its head again as he missed three attempts, before scrumhalf Faf de Klerk relieved him of the duty.

Libbok did make up for it with an excellent display in open play, setting up Arendse’s try with a sensational no-look crossfield kick.

“This question about missing kicks gets asked a lot, but we play as a team,” Kolisi said.

“Sometimes you are not good at one thing on the day, but the way he attacked today and how he took control and how he was a general amongst us. There are other guys who can kick.

“He is not going to be good at everything every single day. We are working as a group.”

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In a tight game at Marseille’s Stade Velodrome, two Libbok penalties to one from Finn Russell made it just 6-3 at half time. The Springboks struggled to capitlise on their dominance in the first half, but came out guns blazing in the second period.

“We didn’t start with the intensity that we normally want to bring. The conversations were clear and anything they (coaches) say we already knew as we tell each other the same,” Kolisi said.

“We came out for the second half with that kind of energy.”

Photo: NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP

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