Siya Kolisi and Rassie Erasmus have both thrown their full support behind Cheslin Kolbe as the winger prepares to take the mantel as first-choice goal kicker against France on Saturday. DYLAN JACK reports.
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Missed shots at goal saw the Boks leave seven points on the field in Dublin last week as first Damian Willemse and then Kolbe were entrusted with the kicking tee.
After naming the lineup to face France in Marseille on Saturday, Jacques Nienaber announced that Kolbe will be the go-to goal-kicker based on his comfortability with the duties at club level.
During a press conference on Friday, Bok skipper Kolisi said the Springboks will try to play well enough so that Kolbe’s kicking does not become a central issue.
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“He works hard on it. He’s got our backing, regardless of what happens,” said Kolisi. “We know he’s going out there to give his ultimate best. We don’t want to leave the result up to him. We want to play well enough so that doesn’t become the issue.
“Next year, by this time, we would have had so many people who are able to kick at poles, so we would have been in this situation before,” Kolisi added. “There is no pressure on Cheslin’s shoulders from us as a team. We just want him to play well and do what he always does. He will be fine, no matter what happens.”
Erasmus further explained why the Springboks have opted to shift between kickers on tour.
“Sometimes when Morne Steyn plays, Chris Smith is kicking for goal. I’ve seen that sometimes when Elton Jantjies was playing for the Lions, another player would kick for goal,” said Erasmus.
“Sometimes there are small little things, it can be a kicking style. It’s not a case of us going during the game and taking the player off because he’s kicking badly and the other guy kicks. It is a considered and measured approach.
“When changes happen on the field, it’s not us as coaches who decide who kicks and who doesn’t kick. We don’t decide whether the team kicks for touch or for goal. It might be confidence, rhythm or just a small niggle.
“It’s us as adults working together. Hopefully on Monday when Cheslin slots five out of five, we will all be happy and say it was a good decision.”
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Picks – @mark_keohane and Zels predict that it will go down to the wire when the Boks clash with France in Marseille on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/Awe17qrjcF
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) November 10, 2022
Photo: Gallo Images
