Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has revealed that they have made plans around flyhalf Manie Libbok and his goal-kicking issues ahead of Saturday’s crunch Rugby Championship finale against Argentina.
Libbok has come in for unprecedented abuse and online trolling since missing the match-winning penalty kick against Argentina in Santiago del Estero. However, the Bok coach has backed Libbok to do the business this weekend by picking the flyhalf in the starting line-up for the return match against Los Pumas in Nelspruit.
Erasmus revealed that Libbok has coped well with the criticism and “has taken it on the chin”.
"We as a team had a little laugh at the memes and stuff that went around," Erasmus joked. "We see it as people who haven't been through that and haven't felt that kind of pressure don't know how tough it is.
"We totally understand that people will criticise, he takes it on the chin and as the management staff we all take it on the chin. But the only way to get a guy like him through this is to get him back onto the horse and ride it until it's flat again.
"Manie's a professional, we're professionals and we've all rallied around him and he's starting this weekend. Getting another chance with a guy like Handre [Pollard on the bench]."
But while Erasmus has backed Libbok to come good on Saturday, they have come up with a plan if his inconsistency off the kicking tee persists.
Libbok is a wonderful footballer, as his cameo before the missed penalty showcased. In the minutes leading up to the penalty, he got the Springboks up field with two pin-point contestable kicks. He also got the Boks’ backs going with his distribution and running game.
However, his goal-kicking remains a problem, as he regularly mixes the sublime with the ugly off the tee. It’s something that has kept him from cementing that Bok No 10 jersey, as it overshadows his brilliance in general play.
On Saturday, however, he will have back-up in the form of wing Cheslin Kolbe and Jaden Hendrikse if the goal-kicking becomes an issue at the Mbombela Stadium.
In a video on social media, former All Blacks flyhalf and current Bok attack coach Tony Brown was filmed keeping an eye on Libbok, Kolbe and Hendrikse while they were practicing their goal-kicking ahead the Test.
Kolbe has kicked for the Springboks before, as he and Faf de Klerk shared some of the responsibilities on the Boks’ 2022 November tour. The superstar wing has landed five penalties and three conversions in Test matches for South Africa. Hendrikse has also one conversion to his name in a Bok jersey.
Then there is also the insurance policy of Pollard off the bench if the Boks need him to close out the game with the boot.
Erasmus mentioned Libbok was picked ahead of Pollard for Saturdays Test because his skills is best suited to the threat Argentina poses with ball in hand.
“We've made plans. The way we want to play, Manie is integral this weekend, and we've made some other plans with the goal-kicking which hopefully will work,” Erasmus said.
"Manie hasn't just been chosen to kick. The way he plays is a way we think can match the Argentinians on a level at which they try to play. Manie's a guy who's been through deep waters. One or two memes or jokes that people make won't affect him.
"His reality is that when he's with us, we understand why people would feel like that. It's our job to help him get it right and we're busy doing that."
@JohnGoliath82