Handre Pollard and Makazole Mapimpi connected on a pin-point cross-kick for an exhilarating touchdown against the British & Irish Lions, one of 10 nominees for the 2021 SA Rugby Try of the Year award.

Nominee 1: Cobus Reinach vs Georgia
Playing in their first Test since the 2019 World Cup final, the Boks thrilled fans as their way to a 40-9 thumping of Georgia. But none more so than with Reinach’s 36th minute try which originated inside their own 22.

From a ruck, the ball was swung left and went through the hands of Handre Pollard and Willie le Roux, before Jesse Kriel got possession and straigthened the line, which created space for Aphelele Fassi on the wing. Spotting the space in behind the defence, Fassi hacked the ball forward and a horrible mix-up by the Georgian fullback meant the ball bounced favourably for Reinach who scuttled away to score under the posts.

Nominee 2: Makazole Mapimpi vs British & Irish Lions (Second Test)
Having lost the opening Test 22-17 and trailing 9-6 the the break in the second Test after a horrible first half performance, there was every reason to believe the Springboks were on their way to a series loss against the Lions.

But a transformed South Africa took the field in the second half as they made a stunning comeback to clinch the match and level the series at 1-1 heading into the third and final Test.

The comeback was started by Mapimpi’s magnificent try in the 44th minute when latched onto Handre Pollard’s kick-pass inside the 22, effortlessly stepped past opposing wing Anthony Watson before leaving fullback Stuart Hogg sprawling on the the ground and seeing off the attempted tackle of Jack Conan to score and give the Boks the lead which they then held onto until the final whistle.