Name Kolbe 'World Player of the Year' and get it over with already
In light of his two-try display against Italy on Friday, calls are mounting for Cheslin Kolbe to be named World Rugby player of the year.
The winger was named the player of the match, as he played behind a pack that brutalised provided him a lot of time and space on the ball. His former Stormers teammate Juan de Jongh predicted on Twitter after the match that he will win the coveted gong at the end of the year.
A number of current and former players have agreed with de Jongh, including former recipient of the award, Bryan Habana, who said it “seems very likely”.
Usually, for a player to win the award in a Rugby World Cup year, their team needs to win the competition, or at least get to the final, which is looking increasingly likely with the Springboks.
The only downside is that Kolbe limped off in the final minutes of the match against Italy after falling awkwardly on his ankle. It would be a travesty for Rassie Erasmus’ side and for all spectators if the diminutive winger’s injury is serious.
Although the Toulouse winger has the best footwork in rugby at the moment and pace to match, it is the other aspects of his game that may impress some, such as his defence. Despite being 80kg/ 12st,8lb, the 25-year-old rarely misses a tackle, and is hugely effective in South Africa’s pressing defence.
In a sport where players seem to be getting larger, Kolbe is a breath of fresh air, and is rightly regarded as one of the world’s best, if not the best player.
https://twitter.com/JuanDeJongh/status/1180094576784236545?s=20
https://twitter.com/1GioAplon/status/1180095479364931584?s=20
https://twitter.com/BryanHabana/status/1180097200946339840?s=20
Cheslin Kolbe 🔥 #RWC2019
— Ugo Monye (@ugomonye) October 4, 2019
After making the Champions Cup semi-final and winning the Top 14 with Toulouse during the first half of the year, Kolbe’s success continued as he was part of South Africa’s victorious Rugby Championship campaign.
He proved how dangerous he can be against the All Blacks in July, as South Africa came away with a draw in Wellington. Steve Hansen’s side found it almost impossible to contain Kolbe, particularly Reiko Ioane, another one of the world’s premier wingers.
Other players have stood out this year, none more so that Wales’ Grand Slam winning captain Alun-Wyn Jones, but Should the Springboks make the RWC final or even win the competition, it would be hard to make a case for any other player to win the award.
Comments on RugbyPass
Big empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to comments