Makazole Mapimpi says it will be tough at the World Cup without Lukhanyo Am, but the veteran Springbok winger is ready to shoot the lights again on rugby’s grandest stage.
Am was one of three notable omissions when the Boks announced the 33-man contingent for their defence of the Webb Ellis Cup in France, although the injured centre will travel to the UK for two warm-up matches as a standby player.
In one of the most iconic moments in SA rugby, Am and Mapimpi combined for the latter to score the first try in the 2019 final – also the Boks’ first try in a World Cup decider.
They have since helped the world champions win a British & Irish Lions series, and have honed their on-field relationship as part of a potent backline corps for the Sharks.
Addressing the absence of his teammate after the squad announcement on Tuesday, Mapimpi told TimesLive: “It is tough. It is a guy I sleep next to [as my roommate]. He had the injury and the situation is very emotional.
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“I share everything with him. We talk about everything. We are brothers. When he got injured he was very emotional.
“He has been doing well the last couple of seasons and was nominated as World Rugby Player of the Year. Now all of a sudden, last minute, he is injured. I hope he is going to get better soon and can be part of this squad.”
Without Am, the pressure will be on the likes of Mapimpi in the wide channels, and the challenge from Kurt-Lee Arendse for the No 11 jersey, too, will keep the 38-Test flyer on his toes.
“l[Pressure] is something I have been going through since Border and the Kings, all of Super Rugby, then at the Springboks,” he said. “I don’t put too much on myself.
“It is not about me but about the team. I put the team first, understand the game plan and am ready to deliver it. You [also] can’t get comfortable, because you don’t know where you are [in the selection mix].
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On the overwhelming reaction from the crowd in Randburg following his squad selection, the 33-year-old added: “I was surprised that when people saw me they were very happy. It is kind of nice.
“I have family and lots of people praying for me. I’m blessed, I need to keep going but I also need to also show people the love that they are showing me.”
The reaction inside MultiChoice City when Makazole Mapimpi was announced as one of the 33 men to represent South Africa at the Rugby World Cup was incredible 🇿🇦👏 pic.twitter.com/WaQQrAYYxZ
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 8, 2023
Photo: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP