Two Springboks are poised to celebrate a career milestone against England at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Double World Cup winners Cheslin Kolbe and Damian Willemse will become the latest Boks to earn their 50 Test caps having both made their debuts in 2018.
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The Nations Championship clash will be the third consecutive Bok Test where a player will be marking a half century of caps.
Lock RG Snyman reached the milestone against Ireland in Dublin and Cobus Reinach against Wales in Cardiff last November.
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Former Blitzboks coach Neil Powell told Rapport that Kolbe’s determination always outweighed concerns about his stature at the outset of his career.
“Cheslin was an incredible sevens player,” Powell said. “The challenges for the smaller guys are always going to be the contact skills.”
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Powell recalled how SA Rugby’s sevens programme invested heavily in Kolbe’s physical development as he evolved to become one of the most complete players in world rugby.
“He always had a natural talent for kicking and beating defenders,” he said. “I think he can sidestep someone in a 5m space and he’s made a lot of guys look really bad.
“He’s not the tallest winger, but he has incredible explosiveness.”
Willemse and Kolbe will be aiming for a third World Cup title when the Boks defend their crown in Australia next year.
Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images
The post Bok duo set to reach landmark against England appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Two Springboks are poised to celebrate a career milestone against England at Ellis Park on Saturday.
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