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The Instagram post that brought tears to eyes of Trevor Nyakane
Springboks replacement prop Trevor Nyakane cried tears of joy after he saw a video of his young daughter celebrating a scrum penalty win by her dad during last weekend’s second Test victory over the Lions. The 32-year-old had started the first Test at tighthead but he appeared as a replacement loosehead in the rematch and was seen revelling with his tongue out in celebration of a penalty win with the score at 21-9.
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His toddler daughter Skylar was watching at home wearing one of Nyakane’s No3 jerseys and the video posted to Instragam showed her bubbly reaction to her dad coming on screen with his tongue out in delight that the Springboks had just done a penalty-winning number on the Lions set-piece.
“It was just amazing and awesome for me to be able to see my young one recognising and enjoying watching a bit of rugby, so it brought a little bit of tears to my eyes when I saw the video for the first time. She is always going to be my No1 supporter and that was just amazing for me,” enthused Nyakane ahead of the third Test decider where he has again been selected as the back-up Springboks loosehead, the position where he started his career playing but had not packed down in for five years until last weekend.
“From a technical perspective there is a lot of different things that happen there,” explained the veteran of 44 Springboks Test caps, 39 of those appearances coming as a replacement. “Most people think that a prop is just a prop but it was a bit challenging for me to move back because the last time I actually played on the loosehead was 2016.
“I have been playing tighthead for the past few years so moving to loosehead was challenging but that being said I got a lot of help from Ox (Nche), from the guys who have been playing loosehead for the past few years. That is the nice thing about this group. The tighthead that you are scrumming against (in training) will also tell you to try and do this a bit more. As a group, we found a way to try and help each other because we all know it’s for the better of the team. The guys sat with me and gave me a few pointers and taught me how they do things.
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“Scrum coach Daan (Human) is just an amazing, passionate guy when it comes to scrumming. He knows his thing and he played there and he gave me a few points as well. I went into the game confident enough that we have done the prep, that we have done the work having been put into that situation a few times in training so I was confident enough to go out there and put in a performance. The credit always goes to the back five because they have been immense, they just give their all every single time in the scrum at training or in a game. We have got so much firepower at the back (of the pack) that we just need to concentrate on the few things that we need to get right and we always know they will always bring the head from behind.”
The timing of the Nyakane re-emergence as a loosehead might look odd given he has opened the series against the Lions as the starting Springboks tighthead but the veteran front-rower would do anything to represent his country. “If you asked me two weeks ago I would have easily no doubt have said I am a tighthead, I can try and cover loosehead but I am full-on tighthead.
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“I still feel the same way but right now I am on loosehead and that is what the team needs and that is what I am going to do. It has nothing to do about Trevor himself, it’s about South Africa, it’s about the green and gold. Even if they put me at lock I would go, but I don’t think that is an option. For me, it is just wherever you are needed you try your utmost best to give everything.
“The coaches are reasonable enough, they are not going to ask you for miracles, they are asking for things that you have done before, things they know you are capable of doing. I have got the backing from them and the backing of my teammates. Right now, Trevor Nekayne is covering loosehead for the Springboks and that is what I am going to do.”
Battle lines have hardened in the explosive Rassie Erasmus versus World Rugby standoff following a tweet from a vested interest in America#CastleLionsSeries #LionsTour2021 #LionsRugbyhttps://t.co/7S1OcfNxJU
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 4, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
It’ll be very interesting to see how Razor’s AB’s handle the new England rush D. It’s basically the Bok recipe they copied, so if England goes well then we know most likely the Boks will go well too. If England cops a hiding then we’ll have to study and adapt.
4 Go to commentsTypical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
2 Go to commentsSBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
4 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
2 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
5 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
5 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
5 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
5 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
4 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
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