VIDEO: Bok hybrid star gives lowdown on maul try v midfield breaks
TURIN, ITALY: Springbok centre-turned-flanker André Esterhuizen’s impact in the win over Les Bleus at the Stade de France cannot be overstated.
After Springbok lock Lood de Jager left the field in the 39th minute with a permanent red card, the Springboks were down to 14 players, but more importantly, they had lost a vital cog in their power play.
With the French up for the physical battle, and without a lock, the Springbok management scattered at half-time to make plans.
A key element of those plans was Esterhuizen’s role – more as a flanker than at centre.
His first contribution to the game was packing down in the scrum, something he had done previously since he was first introduced as a hybrid player against the Barbarians in Cape Town at the start of their international season.
In that match, he came on from the bench and took up a flanker role, marking the first public example of the switch.
Erasmus explained that a player like Esterhuizen gives the team more flexibility, making it possible to use a 6-2 split instead of 5-3.
Rugby365 asked Esterhuizen after the game against the French what the message to him was at half-time on the important role he had to play, juggling between forwards and backs.
“Yes, at half-time we went down to 14 men and plans were made at that time regarding line-outs and scrum,” he explained.
“I was told when I go on, go on as a 12 and then we can have similar line-outs again, so the line-outs because I’ve been practising there all week.
“And then on defence play at 12. The plans we made worked out quite well,” he stated.
“We just pulled together and stuck it out.”
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Esterhuizen had entered the fray in the 48th minute as a direct swap for Damian de Allende after captain Siya Kolisi was replaced by Ruan Nortje at half-time, and RG Snyman went on in the place of Eben Etzebeth.
His try in the 64th minute came as the South African pack powered their way over the line, the centre finding himself at the bottom of the pile and managing to get the ball down.
“It was quite a strange game for me, jumping between the two [flanker and centre], I felt a bit of both [positions],” he remembered.
“It was a tough game, it was hard. They [France] obviously have a pack of big boys, so it was quite physical.
“So the big plan at half-time was that we stay physically dominant, and I think our boys did that.”
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Having been tested in his new role in a few matches up to now, the big centre has become accustomed to the physicality that goes with playing as a forward.
“In the beginning, the hybrid was weird, but now I am getting accustomed to it.
“I’m joining more forward sessions with line-outs and scrumming sessions, so I’m definitely fitting in more now and understanding the role more.
“It’s just getting better every week.”
Asked if it is easier scoring a try in a maul than it is slicing through midfield with a 12 on his back, Esterhuizen said: “It’s actually not. There’s a lot that needs to go right with a maul. It’s a lot of movement and a few things that have to go right.
“Our team prepares well for our mauls, and every week we work hard on that just to execute it.
“I am definitely enjoying it. It gives me more opportunities.”
Image Brad Roberts
