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
Why 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!
3 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 …
30 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 commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments