Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber has explained his team selection as the reigning world champions prepare to face England on Saturday night.
The South African national rugby team – Springboks will play its final Test match at Twickenham – and Mapimpi is brought in to replace Cheslin Kolbe.
Kolbe returned to his French club, Toulouse, and that commitment granted Mapimpi an opportunity to make his return to the starting line-up.
There’s no doubt about Mapimpi’s status in the team as he has 35 Test matches under his belt, but his role is slowly taking a different direction in the Springboks squad.
According to Nienaber, it seems Mapimpi has a new role in the team as he is seen as someone who can be a mentor.
With this opportunity, the 32-year-old Mapimpi will have to justify his inclusion in the starting 15 to boost his continued participation at the Test level as he returns to the No. 11 jumper role.
Despite falling down the pecking order, Nienaber believes Mapimpi is still good enough to don the jersey for the three-time Rugby World Cup winners.
“Sometimes there are just a bunch of guys that are in front of you (that need game time). And that is why (Mapimpi) hasn’t had many opportunities lately,” Nienaber said of the Cell C Sharks winger.
“It is not because he isn’t good enough. There are a few guys that have now got a bit more experience and who are ahead of him in the pecking order at this level.
“Makazole knows what we are trying to achieve in terms of our strategies against the teams we have recently played and to give a guy like Kurt-Lee a bit more experience. That is how tight this group is – we can make changes like that without it affecting the players.”
The Springboks mentor also touched on the fact that the plan to build depth ahead of the Rugby World Cup in France next year, is gaining momentum.
“Obviously, the guys are disappointed when they are not chosen, but they get over it quickly and you start helping the match-day team prepare.
“With Makazole, we know the quality that we have but we have built our depth if you look at the development of Canan and Kurt-Lee.
“We also have Cheslin there, and we haven’t even touched on Sbu (Nkosi), who is injured, or Aphelele Fassi, who is also injured. We have lekker depth there in that department now.”
Main Image: Makazole Mapimpi/eNCA
The post Makazole Mapimpi must justify his return to the Springboks squad appeared first on Entertainment SA - South African Entertainment News, Celebrity and Lifestyle Online Magazine & Entertainment.
إرسال تعليق