Libbok delivers another Bok-worthy performance
TRUSTING in himself, being trusted by his coaches, and blocking out all the external noise that can be distracting is how Manie Libbok got his kicking groove back.
Since he showed a slight dip in kicking form against Munster, he’s gone from strength to strength, leading the Stormers with his prowess on attack and his aim at the posts to a second successive URC final.
On Saturday, Libbok scored 23 points via two tries, five conversions, and a penalty as he helped the defending champions overcome a spirited Connacht 43-25 at Cape Town’s DHL Stadium for a place in the May 27 final.
Thanks to Munster defeating favourites Leinster in Dublin, Cape Town will host a second final in two years.
Libbok, vying for a place as one of the Springbok flyhalves for the Rugby World Cup in France in September, could have easily let the noise from nay-sayers slip into his mind after that kicking display against Munster on April 15, but he did not.
On the contrary, he showed with three brilliant performances that he is ready for the big moments, even if it is with the Springboks.
For the last three matches since Munster came to Cape Town – against Benetton, the Bulls, and Connacht – Libbok showed his class on attack and delivered near-flawless kicking displays, especially at goal.
“That performance against Munster was tough, especially kicking to goal, but I don’t think my game was off, I think I did a good job in general,” Libbok said.
“Those kind of games, it builds my character because I took a lot of learnings from it.
“It also shows and reminds you that there’s still a lot to work on and improve on.
“If you put it like that, into perspective, and go back and put the work in, especially with kicking; we have a phenomenal kicking coach here at the Stormers (Gareth Wright) that helps me a lot with my kicking.
“He brings the best out of me by putting the work in with me. I am grateful for him.
“All that work paid off in the Bulls game, I got my confidence back again. But not just from the Bulls game, the Benetton one too.
“I am happy, holding my head down, and I’ll keep on grafting and working on my craft.”
On Saturday against Connacht, it was a testing time for Libbok and his fellow kickers as the Black South Easter wreaked havoc in the stadium. He said it was especially difficult to kick with the wind swirling in every direction and it made it tough to judge things.
Apart from a brief spell early on when the Stormers were under pressure on their try-line and the pressure caused some uncharacteristic errors, Libbok had a stellar game.
The flyhalf took responsibility for the try-line blunder and said he could recover to put that out of his mind.
“The wind was terrible at that stage, but I should’ve had my eye longer on the ball when I wanted to kick (to relieve pressure). I looked where I wanted to kick, and dropped the ball backwards.
“Damian (Willemse) was there for a bailout and I tried to give it to him. Obviously, he dropped it. That was my fault.
“I put that behind me immediately because rugby is about 80 minutes and not one moment. And there are a lot of moments to win. I focused on the next job and tried to influence the next moment positively.”
That positive moment came soon after when Libbok played a big role in his team’s first try as he kicked two cross-field kicks for winger Angelo Davids to score.
In other positive moments, Libbok scored two breath-taking tries as well as providing the crossfield kick in the final moments that flanker Hacjivah Dayimani lapped up, before putting centre Ruhan Nel in space with a magical off-load for the game’s final try on the full-time hooter.