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'Get paid Lionel Messi money': Springbok centre deserving of riches
Outside centre Lukhanyo Am has been one of the best defenders in the game since becoming the number one option for the Springboks during the 2018 June test series against England.
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The Sharks midfielder has flourished under Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber’s high pressure system, where Am’s talents in contact and over the ball have been critical for the Springboks.
He set the tone for the Springboks in the opening British & Irish Lions test by putting a heavy shot of England centre Elliot Daly, a tackle that former players suggest had put the Lions into a shell for the rest of the series.
He was at it again in the Springboks second test over Argentina, coming up with a miraculous try saver on the goal line to steal away a certain try for the Pumas.
WIth time up on the clock the Pumas had a break down the left touchline by Juan Martin Gonzalez. Am began the pursuit but then switched over to cover the inside pass when the Springbok cover defender looked to have Gonzalez covered.
The inside pass bounced off Santiago Carreras’ shoulder, allowing Am to snatch it and save the would-be try.
Lukhanyo Am committing daylight robbery ?#RugbyChampionship #ARGvSA #RSAvARG pic.twitter.com/ZNtW95FF49
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) August 21, 2021
Am was described as ‘the world’s best 13’ that ‘deserved to play in Europe and get paid Lionel Messi money’, after his form over the last month has continued his stellar 17-test career.
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Another described the ‘absolute lynchpin in defence’ as an early contender for World Player of the Year award after his Lions series and first two games against the Pumas.
Once part of a two-centre tandem with Jesse Kriel, Am has become an 80-minute player for the Springboks in 2021. He played all 240 minutes against the Lions, before being rested last week.
Back in the top side for the second Pumas test, Am put another 80-minute performance and was still making big plays in the last period of play.
So he might not have been the official Man of the Match, but my vote is with Lukhanyo Am, @Springboks outside centre. An absolute linchpin in defence and deft touches in attack. My early pick for World Rugby Player of the Year.#RSAvARG
— The Rugby Cat (@TheRugbyCat) August 21, 2021
I don’t think I’ve ever seen this in rugby before. I thought it was a hasty pass at the time but it’s as much Lukhanyo Am taking candy from a baby. Jedi mind trick give me the ball son. Then calmly runs it back upfield. ????? #RSAvARG https://t.co/LM5MmSpChw
— Paul Watson (@paulmwatson) August 21, 2021
Lukhanyo Am taking the ball out of the Argentine players hands on the try line before they can score was the best moment of this entire match #RSAvARG
— Carl (CastingSA) ? (@Carl49987194) August 21, 2021
Lukhanyo Am deserves to play in Europe and get paid Lionel Messi money. #RSAvARG
— Luvuko Nombembe (@luvukonombembe) August 21, 2021
Oh Argentina, that was your try! Great play and then in the heat of it he passes to Am a meter from the line ???? #RSAvARG
— Paul Watson (@paulmwatson) August 21, 2021
Where did Am come from? #RSAvARG
— akhonalocs (@Akhonalocs) August 21, 2021
Lukhanyo Am deserves all the recognition man.?????#RSAvARG
— uDube omuhle? (@RatibabyG) August 21, 2021
There is big difference in playing Rugby with brawn vs intellect. Lukhanyo Am is the latter . Imagine playing such a physically demanding game while having to think at the same time. Very few will understand.
— Hlumza Mayibuye (@HlumzaMayibuye) August 21, 2021
Lukhanyo Am. World’s best 13.
— Matt Cowan (@BetMattC) August 21, 2021
Despite Am’s save, the Pumas got another chance to score in extra time when they received a penalty after the Springboks continued to play on.
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Kicking to the corner, the Pumas mauled down to two-metres out before barging over through Pablo Matera three phases later.
The Springboks were in search of a third try that would have given them the three-try bonus point in the Rugby Championship, but ended up conceding one at the other end.
“We weren’t disappointed to concede the try,” said head coach Jacques Nienaber after the game.
“Maybe ten years ago I wouldn’t have said that, but we were going for the bonus point try and we told the guys to go for the big defensive reads and take chances.
“If we had got the bonus point try it would have been worth it. We were in a position where we could go for it, so it wasn’t a risk.”
Comments on RugbyPass
To me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
30 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
30 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
30 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
30 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
30 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
30 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
30 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to comments