Am counts on Sharks connection

Rudolph Jacobs

– Despite the relative inexperience of the Springbok backline in the Rugby Championship opener against Argentina this afternoon, outside centre Lukhanyo Am (right) believes their combinations are starting to bear fruit.

Am has just three Test caps, midfield partner Andre Esterhuizen just two, left-wing Aphiwe Dyantyi three and right-wing Makazole Mapimpi just one.

But Am believes having formed a potent midfield combination at the Sharks with Esterhuizen in Super Rugby could only work to the advantage of the team.

“It makes it easier having played together at the Sharks, but we never done it at international level,” he said.

The more inexperienced backline players are fullback Willie le Roux with 44 caps, flyhalf Handre Pollard with 29 caps and scrumhalf Faf de Klerk with 14 Test matches under his belt.

Am, however, is a firm believer that the tough nature of the Super Rugby competition has helped him and Esterhuizen.

“The experience of playing together as a combination at the Sharks for so long definitely

Durban

helped us grow as players individually and also combining better and the understanding of one another in pressure situations,” he said.

“Makazole comes in at rightwing having made his debut against Wales but then had to stand back to see how fellow Sharks wing Sbu Nkosi earned three caps against England. Then an injury ruled him out of the start of the Championship.

“Knowing Makazole from the Sharks for sure helps,” said Am.

“But we have also been in camp together for more than two weeks and having also played together before in Super Rugby it will really help.”

While Am is currently preferred to the more experienced Jesse Kriel in the No 13 jersey, Am doesn’t feel it has increased the pressure on him.

“We take the opportunities that have been given to us and try to make the best out of it and approach it game by game while we wait to see what the coach has in mind for the remainder of the Championship.”