Bongi ‘man for tight exchanges’
RIGHT CALL: COACH FEELS MARX IS FINE WHEN IT’S LOOSE
Though the battle continues, it seems Bongi Mbonambi holds a slight edge over Malcolm Marx as firstchoice hooker for the Springboks, with Mbonambi wearing the No 2 jersey in the World Cup semifinal against Wales tomorrow.
Defending his decision, coach Rassie Erasmus said they wanted Mbonambi to start as they were likely to focus on the tight phases, while Marx was best suited when the game loosened up.
Regardless of the number on his back, however, Mbonambi hopes to deliver for the squad.
“Rassie will pick a guy who is there to work hard and do his job, and you work your way into this team,” Mbonambi said.
“Previous coaches would pick someone who had been there for years, even though you could see he was not pulling his weight.”
The work ethic of the team, Mbonambi feels, is a result of the positive vibes in the squad.
“We know you will get picked on the basis of the work you do and how you execute it,” he said.
“Rassie has obviously made a massive difference, not just to the Boks, but a lot of decisions have influenced the whole nation.”
Erasmus has an open and honest relationship with each player, and Mbonambi believes this has also helped boost the spirit within the squad.
“He is the sort of coach that has an honest opinion about each and every player, and he will tell it to you honestly,” Mbonambi said.
“He is not the type of coach that will do things behind closed doors. He does it openly in front of the whole team.
“The players have more respect for a coach who is open about what he needs and expects from them.
“He gives you more freedom to go out there and be yourself and express yourself,” Mbonambi said.
“That has been the most outstanding thing about this team.”