Manie Libbok will thrive as the first-choice flyhalf for the Springboks against Australia and New Zealand in the Rugby Championship, according to MARK KEOHANE.
The Boks have endured something of a mini-injury crisis in the position which necessitated a recall for Elton Jantjies to the expanded squad in Pretoria that is preparing for the Rugby Championship and World Cup.
Handre Pollard has been ruled out with a calf injury, while Damian Willemse is also a concern after picking up a knock to his knee.
The South African and Vodacom URC’s form No 10 this year, the DHL Stormers’ Libbok is the only fully fit pivot who has trained with the Boks since day one at the Highveld camp.
During a recent media conference, Rassie Erasmus said he expects Willemse to be fit to face the Wallabies at Loftus Versfeld on 8 July, but in his TimesLIVE column, Keohane argues that Libbok must be entrusted with Bok No 10 jumper.
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“Libbok, on the Springboks year-end tour in 2022, played three Tests as a substitute against France, Italy and England respectively and thrived in the last two matches,” he writes.
“He needs game time at No 10 and I hope the Bok coaching staff trust him to start against the Wallabies and All Blacks on successive weekends, in South Africa and in New Zealand. Those two experiences would be worth more than 160 playing minutes come the World Cup.
“The Bok coaches, in explaining Jantjies’s inclusion as late cover, pointed to his vast experience of playing in 48 Test matches in the last decade. Using that same argument, the only way Libbok can get the Test experience is if he gets game time.
“Libbok is a naturally attacking No 10 who adds a dimension to any team if given the freedom to play naturally, albeit aligned to the structure of the team.
“I believe he can transfer his URC form to the Test arena, but he needs Test minutes – and lots of them over the next few months.”
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