Bok flyer who screams pace and excitement
“EXCITEMENT.” That was the word Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus used when he was speaking about S’busiso Nkosi a few weeks ago.
And has this man not excited Springbok fans this year? and, for that matter, anyone who loves the game.
He has carried his blistering Sharks form straight into the Bok set-up. He has produced some of the most thrilling moments in the two Test victories over England.
So when Erasmus said that S’busiso Nkosi was close to making his international debut last year already, he wasn’t joking.
And when he said that he has been one of the standout wingers in the country, he wasn’t exaggerating.
In fact, if there had been an official Super Rugby list of what I like to call field-lighters to watch out for in the 2018 season, there can be no doubt that the Sharks back would have been on that list. And I don’t think he’d be too far down that scroll either.
When Nkosi and Lions flyer Aphiwe Dyantyi were included in Erasmus’s Springbok squad for the three-Test series against England, and later in the run-on side for the opening Test at Ellis Park, those selections out wide screamed excitement.
And when Nkosi crossed the tryline in Johannesburg – twice – it was vindication.
Erasmus explained: “S’bu was close to making the team last year, one of the standout wingers and this year again, he’s been really physical doing work in attack and defence and has improved in the areas which we thought he was vulnerable in.”
“I watched him when I was still in Ireland and he was one of the form wingers in the country.”
If you think of an area that has caused South African outside backs all kinds of headaches, then it wouldn’t be too hard to guess that that area is under the high ball.
The very descriptive term horror show a very poor performance) really has been applicable in recent years to the Springboks when it comes to the aerial contest.
Too many instances of a player going up, isolated, and failing to secure the bal. Too many instances of just a plain fail when it comes to actually getting a grip on the Gilbert. Just too many. So yes, that area really has been a horror show in the past. ALSO INSIDE Proteas in England, P21 Wimbledon warm-ups, P21 World Cup 2018, P23
But it’s an area that Nkosi has improved in. And he will continue to improve there. It’s a skill and it can be enhanced.
Then we get to the other definition of horror show – a situation that is very unpleasant or difficult to deal with.
And that’s where I think Nkosi’s heading.
I reckon he will become that situation. An unpleasant situation for any team he plays against. A regular one.
In his first two Tests he already showed how difficult he can be to handle. And it’s not just his eye for the tryline that makes him such a threat, it’s everything he does before he runs in behind the posts or dives over in the corne that makes him so special.
It’s his massive work-rate. It’s his unquestionable power and and his knack for forcing the opposition to make an attempt or three on defence before he has to swing an offload to his mate in space. It’s his anticipation for play that allows him to pop up at just the right time. It’s his support play. His powerful carrying. And it’s that defence (with a good few dominant tackles and massive completion rate added in there) that makes him such an exciting product.
Sure, the Springboks were skinned out wide a couple of times by England’s runners in the first two Tests. But again, it’s a system – perhaps just quicker drifting from midfield – and it can be sorted out.
So, as S’bu Nkosi prepares for his third appearance in the green and gold, let’s hope to see more unpleasant touches from him – for Eddie’s boys, of course. IF YOU remember Senegal at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, then you’ll remember Aliou Cisse. At that tournament, the west Africans upset champions France in the opening game and then surged on, in fairytale fashion, to reach the quarter-finals; Cisse was an influential member and the captain of that 2002 team. Now, as Senegal coach, he is bringing that same energy and vibrancy to the current team, but also ensuring they are a lot more tactically adept and disciplined.
Senegal made the entire continent proud with a superb win over a highly-rated Poland on Tuesday – but, it wasn’t just so much the victory, it was the intelligent manner in which they tactically controlled the game.
It is often said a major downfall of African countries at the World Cup is that they tend to be led by their emotions and, in the process, through a lack of focus, things tend to fall apart. Not so with Senegal: they were disciplined throughout, they kept it tight and compact and never allowed the Poles to play through the lines.
While Poland had ball possession, they were never able to do anything because of the shape and organisation of the Senegalese. And then, importantly, when Senegal gained possession, they were able to put the opposition under pressure with their athleticism, pace and power on the ball. There are those who may say that Senegal were a touch lucky – an own goal and a disputed second goal because of a referee decision – but anyone who has played this game before knows that, in football, you make your own luck.
This is a sport that rewards hard work – and, based on Senegal’s performance, there is no doubt the win was fully deserved. For Cisse, it was a tremendous triumph – but, more than that, it was just as significant for the symbolic message sent out by the 42-year-old’s success: as the youngest coach, and the only black coach among the 32 at Russia 2018, Cisse confirmed the quality, acumen and allround game suss of a new generation of emerging black coaches. Ignore their rise and ability at your own peril. *** As for hosts Russia, their performances have, surely, been inspired by a nation rallying behind the team. In football, it is always said, the crowd, the country, becomes the team’s 12th man at a tournament such as this. For example, South Korea made it to the semi-finals when they co-hosted in 2002, Mexico the quarter-finals in 1986, while France, England and Argentina emerged as champions on home soil. The odd one out, unfortunately, is South Africa, in 2010, with Bafana Bafana the only country to crash out in the group stages as hosts. Russia, after two victories, will surely advance. *** We are, after all, but human. It’s important to focus on that before aiming any unwarranted criticism at the subdued performance of Egypt’s Mohamed Salah in the defeat to Russia on Tuesday. No doubt, he is still feeling the effects of the shoulder injury sustained in the Champions League final. The charismatic attacker’s fitness was critical for Egypt’s chances to progress. But, as it turned out, he had to be rushed back, especially after their opening game defeat to Uruguay, but it was certainly clear he wasn’t ready.