Former Springbok prop Lawrence Sephaka believes Bongi Mbonambi’s omission from South Africa’s squad for the end-of-year tour is no cause for alarm.
In fact, the former Lions hardman is calling it a calculated move by coach Rassie Erasmus to give one of his most trusted lieutenants a much-needed break.
Mbonambi, who played a key role in South Africa’s back-to-back World Cup triumphs, was named among the standby players for the Boks’ five-Test tour, prompting questions about his long-term role.
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But Sephaka told Sport24 that Erasmus has always shown faith in his senior players – even when they’re temporarily rested.
“From the way I’ve seen Rassie operate, he does give off-form players some time to cook again,” Sephaka said. “He’s done so with several players where he’s put them on ice, so it can be a case of reconditioning or sharpening up before the big games next year.”
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The 34-year-old hooker has been a cornerstone of the Bok pack for nearly a decade, but Sephaka believes his workload – compounded by injuries – has caught up with him, making this enforced rest both necessary and strategic.
“Bongi hasn’t had a proper break outside of his injuries and the older you get, the tougher it gets,” Sephaka explained. “Bongi has earned his stripes and deserves a breather, while letting the other guys come in and stamp their authority.”
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Erasmus’ touring squad features several returning players and a handful of new faces, with hookers Malcolm Marx and Johan Grobbelaar preferred to Mbonambi and Marnus van der Merwe.
“Most times, the end-of-year-tour is to reward the guys who excelled at the back-end of the URC, because in the past, it was for standout Currie Cup players,” Sephaka added.
Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
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Former Springbok prop Lawrence Sephaka believes Bongi Mbonambi’s omission from South Africa’s squad for the end-of-year tour is no cause for alarm.
The post Sephaka: Rassie’s giving Bongi time to cook again appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
