Rassie Erasmus has plenty of great Springboks in his South Africa squad but there is just one individual he describes as a "once in a lifetime" talent. It's not Siya Kolisi, his double World Cup-winning captain. Nor Eben Etzebeth, the most capped Test player in his country's history, either.
No, Erasmus reserves the highest of praise for a man a foot shorter and nearly 8st lighter than some of his teammates. In just 38 caps for his country, Cheslin Kolbe has become one of the Springboks' most crucial cogs, a comic book creation with flashing feet, rhinoceros beetle strength and a tool belt befitting of South Africa's ultimate utility figure.
Want emergency scrum half cover to enable you to pick seven forwards on the bench for a World Cup final? Kolbe is happy to oblige. Fly half struggling with the boot and an alternative required? The wing will step up, with few issues. Fancy trying something funky with a back throwing into a lineout? The 31year-old can do that, too.
"I'm blessed with the skillset I have, but I work quite hard on it," Kolbe tells The Independent when asked how he came to be quite such a conjuror. From his time playing touch barefoot on the streets of the Western Cape through his stint on the sevens circuit, which included an Olympic bronze medal, he has never been afraid to try things.
Denne historien er fra November 09, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 09, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Why home advantage has lost its sting in Test series.
“The tour is only a matter of hours old, but the wry thought occurs to me that reputations will almost certainly be destroyed in the next few months.”
North can't compete with south's individual X factor
Ex-Lions captain Sam Warburton has a theory why southern hemisphere teams have dominated the autumn internationals
Aimless Villa stagger to bore draw against Juventus
Aston Villa and Unai Emery have run out of ideas, far too early in the Spaniard’s previously exhilarating revolution.
Reds humble Real and Slot does what Klopp could not
A few weeks ago, it was possible to look at Arne Slot’s seemingly impressive start at Liverpool, adopt a sceptical tone and ask who they had really beaten.
Vauxhall's closure shows No 10 must recharge EV rules
Electric vehicles aren't selling in the volume anticipated and James Moore says government is right to order a swift review
Nationwide banks £2bn in takeover of Virgin Money
Nationwide has gained £2.3bn following its acquisition of Virgin Money, according to the firm’s half-year results.
Red Sea boat survivors were trapped in cabins, says diver
Two Britons who were on the yacht remain unaccounted for
Record snowfall leaves Seoul scrambling to cope
Transport chaos and power cuts hit city as two die on roads
Myanmar junta chief faces crimes against humanity charge for Rohingya deaths
Arrest warrant requested by International Criminal Court
Lebanon ceasefire is part of plan to keep Trump on side
Benjamin Netanyahu knows the incoming president won't be happy if the Gaza war drags on, writes Chris Stevenson, so he is turning his attention to Iran to buy himself some time
