Springbok Rugby player Mannie Libbok has been allocated the place at No. 10 for the Springboks despite ongoing doubts concerning his goal kicking. It’s been several years since the last weekend of the Rugby Champion and the first time Argentina might take home the trophy. Although anything can change.
After they stunned the Springboks by one-point last week in Santiago, the Pumas and Springboks return to South Africa for the return fixture that will see this year’s champions crowned. Meanwhile, the Wallabies will cross the Tasman and take on New Zealand at the Cake Tin, a not so happy hunting ground for the All Blacks as of late. Although the Bledisloe Cup is no longer on the line, the Wallabies do still remain a mathematical chance to lift themselves from the bottom of the table and consign New Zealand to the wooden spoon. Read on as we bring you the latest team news below and look ahead to the Round 6 clashes. Manie Libbok has been given the nod at No. 10 for the Springboks despite ongoing concerns about his goal kicking.
The Springboks need to improve their game to compete against the New Zealander, Australian and Argentinian teams. Rugby is a rough and dynamic sport that requires intense training. To compete in the international Rugby tournament is not an easy task. It comes with immense pressure. Pressure to perform well for the sport. Winning cannot come without pain. The Australian Rugby team the Wallabies have an opportunity to win against the All Blacks; New Zealand. The goal is to seize the Cake tin (Rugby ball) from the opposing team and race it to the other goal post. The New Zealanders have a tight rope to balance un less the Australians tip them over. The Springboks had best be well prepared to compete against the Wallabies when the time comes again, they need all the experience and practice they have.
Meanwhile the Springboks Sevens High Performance management will experience a changing of the guard. Marias Schoeman will be stepping down from his role as Sevens High Performance Manager, after a decade of contributing to the national Sevens programme.
Schoeman, who joined SA Rugby in 2012 and was appointed in his current role in 2018, steps away from SA Rugby to take up a new post as CEO of the SA Rugby Legends Association (SARLA) on November 1. SA Rugby’s general manager for high performance Dave Wessels wished Schoeman well in his new role and thanked him for his contribution over the past 12 years. “Marius was an integral part of the success achieved by the Springbok Sevens team, from his early involvement with the Sevens Academy to his more recent role as high performance manager, which finished on a high note with the team winning the bronze medal at the recent Olympic Games in Paris,” said Wessels.
“Before that, he was part of the system that delivered a historic first bronze medal at the Rio Olympics, three World Series titles, two Commonwealth Games gold medals and a bronze medal at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2018.
As the former manager of SA Rugby Springbok Sevens High Performance Schoeman was highly experienced in sport leadership and able to use his position and skills to utilise them for the benefit and training of the South African rugby team. Schoeman has trained the best of the best to compete in professional rugby. The medals won by the Springboks at the respective tournaments mentioned above shows the management skills of Schoeman in taking the Rugby team to victory. Schoemen took the South African National Rugby team to new heights. He had to push the team and their coaches to achieve the levels of success they have by overcoming whatever obstacles are in their way. The management of a professional sports team be it Rugby or otherwise is no easy task and requires full commitment.
Rugby is just as huge a sport as professional athletics. Schoeman was able to deliver the necessary professionalism and dedication that was needed. South African Rugby and the Springboks will have their successes and defeats.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
