Rassie Erasmus delivers his verdict on Manie Libbok
The past 18 months have been quite the rollercoaster for Manie Libbok, which started with heading to the 2023 World Cup as the Springboks’ only specialist flyhalf.
Libbok played a central role at that global showpiece, but ultimately Handre Pollard reclaimed the No 10 jersey for the final largely due to his all-round consistency and more assured goal-kicking.
It has remained a great debate of sorts, with Libbok offering so much in terms of playmaking ability, pinpoint distribution and the skill of kicking with both feet.
However, the 27-year-old has continued to struggle for consistency off the kicking tee, while he is not a physical or defensive threat of any great repute.
It is these pros and cons that have often divided Springbok supporters, and the matter largely remains up for debate after Libbok once again produced a mixed bag when starting at No 10 against England this past weekend.
His best moment was undoubtedly the superb cross kick to set up a try for Cheslin Kolbe, but he once again did miss a couple of goal kicks, and during the first half there was also the ugly sight of one up-and-under virtually going backwards.
So what was the latest take from Rassie Erasmus when reviewing this performance?
“Manie has played for us in a World Cup semi-final and players understand,” Erasmus explained at the post-match press conference on Saturday.
“In the last match of the Rugby Championship against Argentina, he was probably man of the match… we scored so many tries and we won the tournament.
“I think we, as a team, know exactly where we are. We know there are guys coming back from injury and that is why we are not afraid of rotating. He’s not upset when we take him off when he doesn’t have a great game or when he is getting tired.
“Manie did some brilliant things and he did some bad things, but we felt that Handre’s cool head would get us back onto the front foot. Sometimes, it is going to be the other way around.
“Next weekend, we’ll see. It definitely wasn’t Manie’s greatest performance, but it also wasn’t his worst.”
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