The Beast has 100 reasons to add to England’s pain
Landmark cap for iconic loosehead Mtawarira Tourists counting on Sinckler to spoil party
Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira says he wants to be a “shining light” for the continent of Africa when he wins his 100th cap for the Springboks against England today to take his place as one of the true icons of the world game.
The Zimbabwe-born prop will carry support from across Africa as he becomes only the sixth Springbok to reach the landmark – and the first black African and specialist prop – as Rassie Eramus’s side look to wrap up the three-test series at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
A week after the Springboks drew their emotional energy from Siya Kolisi’s appointment as their first black captain in the 42-39 victory in the first Test in Johannesburg, now the Beast will carry the nation’s expectation on his considerable shoulders.
“It’s really humbling,” said Mtawarira. “All over Africa people rally behind me and support me. From the very start when I was in Zimbabwe as a young boy, I never thought in my wildest dreams I would be on this platform.
“It’s not just about me, it’s bigger than me. It’s about the whole of Africa just being a shining light and showing that you can make it no matter where you come from. That’s the biggest legacy I want to leave behind.
“There is a whole lot as a person that I’ve learnt over the years. The game has been great to me and it changed my life.”
It was a journey that had its humble beginnings in a back office of the Sharks academy in Durban 12 years ago when his coach Dick Muir suggested he switch position from the back row to loosehead prop.
“Dick called me into the office,” said Mtawarira. “I was playing for the Under-21s in the Currie Cup as a loose forward/lock.
“He called me in and said: ‘Beasty, I really like the way you play. But I don’t see you making it as a loose forward. I think if you convert to the front row and become a loosehead prop, that change could be really great for you and, who knows, you could become a Springbok’.
“In that very moment I didn’t believe him and I was upset because I had been working my whole career playing in the back row. I saw myself playing there forever and here was somebody trying to challenge me and make me change my body shape and everything. It was a really big challenge.”
John Smit, who played alongside Mtawarira in a formidable front row who defeated the British and Irish Lions in 2009, highlights the Zimbabwean’s commitment as his standout attribute.
“Beast has been really professional,” the former Springbok captain said. “He has never done much of the drinking or partying. He has always looked after his body. He was originally a flanker in Zim.
“He ate and trained for a solid year without playing just to get himself in the right shape and size. That required a huge amount of patience and dedication. Saturday is a landmark for him. It is significant for a guy like Beast who shifted countries with one intention. He not only managed to realise it once but has done it 100 times.”
Mtawarira will receive respect from England today but Neal Hatley, their forwards coach, wants Kyle Sinckler to ruin the Springboks’ special occasion.
“Look, it is a phenomenal achievement. I think he has played around 140 Super Rugby games, he got capped back in 2007 and has been omni-present when people like John Smit and Bismark Du Plessis have all left,” said Hatley. “He is an energy totem for them – you hear the crowd get behind him when they carry the ball.
“Hopefully we can disappoint him on such a special day for him and his family but he is hard work to plan against. He moves around the park well. Normally guys who have played 100 Tests in the front row tend to move pretty poorly around the pitch or hobble around. He doesn’t. He is a very good player for them and I can’t wait to see how Kyle Sinckler and Harry Williams go against him.”