By Brenden Nel.
If there is one position in rugby which will be targeted by the opposition during a test match, it is the 10 jersey and this weekend’s Castle Lager Rugby Championship opener for the Springboks against Australia is no different.
Manie Libbok knows the Wallabies are coming for him.
The rookie flyhalf gets his first start in a Springbok jersey on the ground where his provincial career started, and he knows the Wallabies will target him this weekend.
“I know they are going to come for me, but I’m taking a lot of confidence out of the preparation. For me the focus is to just go out there on Saturday and to focus on what I have to do, to drive the team around and get them in the right positions to get a result,” Libbok said.
But he knows in any game there is opportunity as well, and if he gets off to a good start and shows the same sort of maturity he showed throughout the United Rugby Championship then he can stake a proper World Cup claim.
In the absence of Handre Pollard, Libbok has been served with a great opportunity.
“For myself it is a big opportunity. My previous career, it was where I began at my career and to where I am today, it wasn’t easy for me. But I’m just going forward and those tough times I had to go through to get here today were there,” he explained.
“There is massive pressure on me going into my game, but I just want to go out there this weekend and fulfill my role. I want to give my best for the team at the best of the day.”
While Libbok never flourished at the Bulls or Sharks before he got to the Stormers, the fact that he has gone full circle and returned to Loftus for his first start is something that has galvanised him.
While he has seen adversity, it has been something that has kept him going and the determination to succeed is what has got him this far and what will take him onto the field on Saturday afternoon.
“It is special, it all started for me at the Bulls and to get a chance to come back to Loftus for me and represent my country is something special. To have the chance to have the Loftus faithful behind me this week is great, and the whole of South Africa – so I’m looking forward to it,” he smiled.
“I’m grateful for what I went through from the beginning of my career – it helped me to learn more, to develop and learn from different coaches. I’m grateful for that, it built my character. “What kept me going was this badge, I obviously wanted to become a Springbok and that was a my grind – to keep my head down, keep on grafting and keep on working. I knew that somewhere along the line I would get the opportunity to play and to play consistently – fortunately I got that at the Stormers and it helped me to reach the point I am at now.”
And if he shows the same magic that he showed so consistently for the Stormers, then the Springboks will be in a good spot.