In a riotous revelation, Rassie Erasmus, the mastermind behind the Springboks, has cheekily claimed responsibility for flyhalf Manie Libbok’s flawless performance at the Cape Town Stadium. Libbok, often critiqued for his kicking consistency, proved his mettle by slotting all five conversions in a dominating 54-7 victory over the Barbarians. This came after he stepped in for Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in the thrilling second half.
Libbok, at 27, is battling it out with Damian Willemse and others for the coveted No 10 jersey, with upcoming games against Italy and Georgia heating up the competition. The flyhalf’s sudden surge in form can be traced back to some behind-the-scenes wizardry from attack coach Tony Brown and Stormers’ kicking guru Gareth Wright.
"Tony worked hard with Manie, Gareth Wright also shadowed him for a week or the few days he was with us," Erasmus explained. "But I told Tony I wanted the credit, because I told Manie to try to miss his kicks because then balls would go over!”
It’s clear that Libbok’s "miss to succeed" strategy, as whimsically put by Erasmus, might just be the new voodoo magic the rugby world didn’t know it needed. Beyond the kicks, Erasmus praised Libbok for his professionalism and competitive spirit, crucial traits for anyone donning the Springbok green and gold.
Erasmus also highlighted the nurturing environment within the squad, especially for younger talents like Feinberg-Mngomezulu. “It’s good to have Manie there to help Sacha, with Tony, Handre [Pollard], and Damian Willemse. We are very fortunate to have this group of flyhalves working together, and I can see quite a bit of determination [among them],” he added.
Amidst the tactical jests and lighthearted banter, what’s evident is the robust backbone of mentorship and skill that defines the current Springbok setup. As they gear up for more challenging fixtures, the team’s depth and Erasmus’s unconventional tactics might just be the twist in the tale that keeps opponents guessing and fans cheering.
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In a riotous revelation, Rassie Erasmus, the mastermind behind the Springboks, has cheekily claimed responsibility for flyhalf Manie Libbok’s flawless performance at the Cape Town Stadium. Libbok, often critiqued for his kicking consistency, proved his mettle by slotting all five conversions in a dominating 54-7 victory over the Barbarians. This came after he stepped in for Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in the thrilling second half.
Libbok, at 27, is battling it out with Damian Willemse and others for the coveted No 10 jersey, with upcoming games against Italy and Georgia heating up the competition. The flyhalf’s sudden surge in form can be traced back to some behind-the-scenes wizardry from attack coach Tony Brown and Stormers’ kicking guru Gareth Wright.
"Tony worked hard with Manie, Gareth Wright also shadowed him for a week or the few days he was with us," Erasmus explained. "But I told Tony I wanted the credit, because I told Manie to try to miss his kicks because then balls would go over!”
It’s clear that Libbok’s "miss to succeed" strategy, as whimsically put by Erasmus, might just be the new voodoo magic the rugby world didn’t know it needed. Beyond the kicks, Erasmus praised Libbok for his professionalism and competitive spirit, crucial traits for anyone donning the Springbok green and gold.
Erasmus also highlighted the nurturing environment within the squad, especially for younger talents like Feinberg-Mngomezulu. “It’s good to have Manie there to help Sacha, with Tony, Handre [Pollard], and Damian Willemse. We are very fortunate to have this group of flyhalves working together, and I can see quite a bit of determination [among them],” he added.
Amidst the tactical jests and lighthearted banter, what’s evident is the robust backbone of mentorship and skill that defines the current Springbok setup. As they gear up for more challenging fixtures, the team’s depth and Erasmus’s unconventional tactics might just be the twist in the tale that keeps opponents guessing and fans cheering.