Aphelele Fassi says his first season with the Springboks helped him understand how he can grow as a player after being named SA Rugby’s Young Player of the Year for 2021. DYLAN JACK reports.

Fassi won the award on the back of an excellent year during which he earned his first Springbok call-up and made a try-scoring Test debut against Georgia.

The 24-year-old was retained in the squads for the British & Irish Lions series, Rugby Championship and end-of-year tour, but would make only one more appearance against Argentina, again marking it with a try.

Speaking exclusively to SARugbymag.co.za, Fassi opened up on the highs and lows of his first experience with the Springboks in 2021.

“Obviously, just being selected in the Bok squad for the British & Irish Lions series was a highlight,” Fassi said. “Making my debut [against Georgia] and then playing in the Argentina game, scoring those two tries were also big highlights for me.

“It was good, but also pretty tough at times. During the Lions tour, we had to stay in strict bio-bubbles. After that, there was the challenge of getting used to the players and environment. But, with time, everything became easier and I became a lot more comfortable. I took so much learning from that year, so it was good for me.

“Training with guys that play at the highest level really made me work on my game in a different manner. As I said, there were a lot of learnings that I took from there and how I’d like to step up my game from last year to this year. One of the biggest things I need to work on is my ability to manage the game and improve the way I get the feeling of the game, which areas to play and run and which areas not to play.”

Fassi said that he particularly enjoyed being able to exchange ideas with Bok veteran Frans Steyn.

“Frans is one of the coolest guys that I have met in the team. When I saw him up close, I thought talking to a guy who has played so many Tests is going to be hard, but it actually came easy. He shared his thoughts on how things are done at Test level. So, it was quite a good thing for me to rub shoulders with such a quality player, especially since he has spent so long training in so many different countries.”

Even though he was named as the country’s best young player, Fassi says he is not letting the award get to his head.

“It means a lot to me. But awards like these are never just won on your own. Obviously, to be recognised as the Young Player of the Year for 2021 is big, but I just want to stay consistent in what I do, how I vary my game and get myself into good positions.”

Fassi has recently been back in action for the Sharks after a long period away from his club side on Springbok duty. He appears to have picked up where he left off, scoring in the win over the Lions in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship and then assisting fellow Springbok Makazole Mapimpi for a try in the draw with the Stormers.

“Yeah, on a personal note it has been good. It was a tough two weeks of pre-season. Over the past two games, it has been good to get back into things and pick up my game again.

“The win in Joburg was quite good but I think we let ourselves down in terms of conceding so many points. Last week we missed a lot of opportunities and let the Stormers back into it. But that’s the past and we are just looking forward to another cracker in Cape Town.

“Our conversion rate need to be higher, with the opportunities the Stormers gave us, we need to convert those. On defence, we should be able to play for the full 80 minutes and not just 55 or 60. It’s going to be a massive effort from the team to go to Cape Town and get a good result.”

While Fassi missed out on the Sharks’ first overseas tour in the URC in September, he says he is looking forward to experiencing new conditions when the team next heads abroad at the end of February.

“The biggest thing that I have seen from the URC is your ability to manage the game is going to be tested. The overseas teams have a much-different focus, so being able to manage the game and convert your opportunities at any given point is something that I have seen.

“I am definitely looking forward to it. It will be a bit of a new challenge for me. Training for local derbies, week in and week out, you tend to know how South African teams will play. So, having that new challenge is going to be a big step for me.”

Photo: Gallo Images