Springboks haven’t even scratched the surface of possibilities with Cheslin Kolbe
The diminutive Kolbe was always going to be up against the odds to establish a test career – it is all too easy to write him off based on his small physical stature.
What demand is there for a 1.72cm, 80kg winger at international level? The potential size mismatch puts Kolbe in a box, some would say unfairly, as a defensive liability.
Any coach needs to believe the upside he brings to table outweighs the worries of having a possible turnstile edge defender and few have been prepared to take that risk in the past.
Overlooked by the Springboks after five seasons with the Stormers, the former Sevens star embarked overseas, taking a contract with Toulouse in the Top 14, seemingly leaving behind the possibility of national selection behind.
Despite fears of being ‘swallowed up’ by giant French forwards, the 24-year-old dazzled in his first season and earned the Top 14’s best signing recognition by newpaper Midi Olympique.
A change of selection policy and a change of coach back home has given Kolbe’s international chances a second-life, changing the trajectory of the fleet-footed star’s career in 2018.
Rassie Erasmus has taken the gamble on Kolbe and has been rewarded as the lion-hearted utility back has come up trumps. A crucial intercept try in Wellington helped contribute to the Boks upset win over the All Blacks, while Kolbe continually put his body on the line in defence, coming up with key last-ditch tackles.
There were lapses, but despite being isolated on the edge, Kolbe was able to hold his own against the much bigger Rieko Ioane on one occasion, stopping him one-on-one just metres from the line before support tacklers assisted.
Kolbe’s tackle success rate for the Springboks in his first four tests is 75%, a more than serviceable amount for a wing. Last year’s test starter Raymond Rhule operates in the mid-to-late fifties at Super Rugby level, proving that defence doesn’t really come down to physical stature – it’s an attitude thing.
As long as Kolbe has the right mindset and his mental application is there, he can do the job. It’s something that he himself recognizes as the key to his success.
“I enjoy showing others that you don’t have to only have size, you have to just have the right belief, mindset and attitude to perform just as well as the bigger guy,” said Kolbe earlier this year in an interview with SA Rugby Mag.
He also brings another element to the Springboks defence that fits in with Rassie’s risk/reward defensive ethos – his predatory instincts bring the potential for the Boks to score against the run of play, as illustrated in the Wellington test.
When faced with three-on-ones or two-on-ones, Kolbe is adept at sitting back, jockeying for time and jumping the passing lane when the attacker fails to commit him before passing. It’s something he does time and time again.
Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe with an intercept try just minutes after the restart! ?
WATCH LIVE on DStv Now >> https://t.co/AlJXi0dDzg#RugbyChampionship ? pic.twitter.com/ebThtgP6TS— SuperSport ? (@SuperSportTV) September 15, 2018
Faf de Klerk’s high-risk roaming sweeper role is causing chaos for the opposition, while many other Bok defenders often blitz from the outside-in to create pressure. Allowing Kolbe to play with ball-hawking freedom on the edge adds to the risk-reward system Erasmus is building.
Moving past the ill-conceived defensive concerns, there is so much more potential to Kolbe’s inclusion the Springboks, and even Toulouse, haven’t yet scratched the surface on.
The rise of ‘swiss army knife’ wingers, who are multi-positional players, could put Kolbe on a different level.
The transformation of the wing position at Premiership club Exeter Chiefs has given similar players like Jack Nowell and Argentinian Santiago Cordero centre stage roles. Nothing illustrates this more than Cordero’s 20 carries against Castres over the weekend, while Nowell notched 14 himself, as the pair beat a combined 18 defenders. Exeter have revalued utility backs and changed the wing position to great effect.
This ‘gadget’ wing moves around, floating as a multi-purpose back and popping up in different places. Kolbe’s razor-sharp footwork combined with deadly speed presents a weapon that, if used correctly, could cause obscene amounts of problems in the right system.
https://twitter.com/_TheRugbyClub/status/1051244970466787328
At Toulouse and the Springboks, Kolbe is exclusively flanked on the right wing during phase play waiting for ball and space to be given to him. Brief counter-attacking and set-piece opportunities do present, but his limited action is a disservice to his game-breaking ability.
Less can be expected with the national side, as Erasmus has only been in the job a few months, but as they work towards 2019 they have to play to the strengths of the players, which they have already done on the defensive side off the ball.
If you are going to pick a player that is ‘outside the box’, you need to think outside the box with how you use him too.
Argentina has formed their own lethal back three themselves with dynamo pocket-rockets Bautista Delguy and Ramiro Moyano. The 80kg winger at the international level with speed and footwork could soon be a new norm, and Kolbe could be the best of them.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
More useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
22 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
1 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
21 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
1 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
13 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
21 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
13 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
22 Go to commentsVern challenging this Blues side might be the edge they need to fulfill their potential. Convincing results from strong D and strong carries are hard to argue against.
1 Go to commentsLove seems to add a strong back field defense with speed to close the gap and tackle to his ability to attack, kick and pass (an accurate long pass). This sets him an edge over some of the other names - JRK in particular. Has to be said that Jordan and Stevenson have also been exposed defensively while Love has yet to face test match intensity. Spoilt for choice.
1 Go to commentsHe’s strung together a few strong seasons, I’d like to see him in the ABs and build some depth along with Reiko and ALB. Levi Aumua hasn’t taken the step we hoped to see but time yet.
2 Go to commentsWhere has our good friend Pecos gone!? Similar place to the Crusaders D, the abyss.
4 Go to commentsNice piece Nick. I haven’t seen much of the brumbies this year so will keep my powder dry on charlie, but clearly has the speed and footwork to be damaging in space. Similar to Samu, I’d worry about the size of our pack if the likes of Mcreight and Cale were in the b/row together. Maybe Cale could play a similar finisher role like Samu did for Rennie’s wallabies. Has Cale leapfrogged wilson in your eyes? He obviously has the lineout, but harry probably better (although not great) in the physical stuff and also has great hands in the loose. You’d have to say mcreight and valetini are shoe-ins at 7/8, so the question becomes who matches best with them at 6 and on the bench. I don’t know if he has a high enough ceiling, but id love to see wright given a shot based on how much bad luck he has had with injuries. He may also fit that no-nonsense graft/work rate irish approach…? If schmidt wants size and a 4/6 tweener then I’d probably pick Uru. On the bench I’d have no idea, Wilson if you want to give valetini a rest, and maybe hanigan/wright/uru as 6 replacements.
21 Go to commentsWho the heck is Billy Fulton?
13 Go to commentsCale has all the potential no doubt. So has Harry Wilson except for his dumb arse coach over the last few years who told him just to run at brick walls all the time. Valentini would be devastating at 6. As he was until some idiot thought oh yeah, move our best player to another position. Not mentioning any flightless or thank you names of course. I very much dislike claiming one player is the saviour, because injuries are so prevalent in the game these days as the players are bigger and faster, so the discussion should be who are at least the best two players in one position. For me it’s Harry Wilson and Cale at 8 at the moment with Valentini or Hooper from the Brumbies at 6. Great options. Seru Uru should be in the reserves too. A game changer.
21 Go to commentsScott Barrett is a card waiting to happen, Cane has been out with injury as well as playing in Japan, I think they’ll go with in-Japan-but-still-the-man Savea. Samisoni Taukeaho will be Captain after 2027, so he might get some Captain minutes against an Italy or Japan.
13 Go to commentsDissapointed that after 7 years Crusaders could not have found a coach that believed their system and improved on it. What was he expecting?
6 Go to comments