Libbok perfectly suited for Springboks' evolution 

OPINION: Manie Libbok’s goal-kicking woes shouldn’t overshadow his playmaking abilities which suits the direction the Springboks are moving towards.

It was a night to forget in Santiago del Estero for the Springboks who let an early 17-point lead slip to succumb to a 28-29 defeat to Argentina – putting their Rugby Championship title hopes in slight jeopardy.

The Springboks had a chance to clinch the match with two minutes to go when Manie Libbok missed what would have most likely been the winning penalty kick to clinch the Rugby Championship for the first time since 2019.

The Springboks will now have to earn a solitary match point in Nelspruit this coming weekend in the return fixture to claim the trophy.

While Libbok is currently public enemy No.1 for that costly miss, he shouldn’t be discarded from the team as he still brings other great qualities such as his amazing playmaking abilities – especially with the Springboks moving to a more balanced ball-in-hand approach under attack coach Tony Brown.

Libbok can still be the Springboks’ flyhalf – be it as a starter or playing off the bench, but he should be given the licence to thrill and not have the goal-kicking responsibilities on him.

A prime example of this is the Springbok class of 2007, who went on to win the World Cup with Butch James as the general in the No.10 jersey but Percy Montgomery took the goal-kicking responsibilities.

The Springboks have more than enough in their arsenal to field Libbok and have a preferred goal-kicker such as Sasha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Handre Pollard and even Damian Willemse.

This theory can even be tested at the franchise level where Libbok was the preferred general for the Stormers over the past three seasons and steered his side to the 2021/22 URC title.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Willemse can be responsible for kicking at goal and Libbok’s only task is to run the play – and should it prove to be successful, there’s no reason to believe that it’s not worth a shot at Test level.

If the Springboks can develop a plan to ensure that Libbok has someone on the pitch to slot the kicks, one could see the best out of him from a playmaking perspective if that responsibility is taken away from him.

Of course, injuries will occur during matches and there may be the odd instance where the responsibility might fall on him, but a minor tweak in selection and role changes could see Libbok have a long and successful Springbok career and not be remembered as the player who missed that kick in Santiago de Estero.