Tshituka honoured to captain SA 'A' during 'golden era'
SPOTLIGHT: SA ‘A’ captain Vincent Tshituka says they have to put their dangerous backline to use when they host Zimbabwe at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
The team features the fresh talent of Luan Giliomee, Jaco Williams, Markus Muller, Zekhethelo Siyaya, Yaqeen Ahmed, and Haashim Pead, combining a superb blend of pace, X-factor, and all-round attacking mojo, while Lukhanyo Am brings composure and experience to balance things out and add direction.
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Ensuring that the exciting bunch have the platform to do damage and play their game will be the forwards’ top priority.
To do that, the loose forwards will aim to win the gainline battle to equip the backs with front-foot ball.
“We are still representing the Springboks at the end of the day, and we want to still play the Springbok way and represent the Springbok brand.
“So as long as there is magic in the backline, our job as the forwards is to give them the best platform to express themselves and to use their talents, cause they’ve got a lot of talent at the back there,” the 27-year-old lock said.
“There are also a lot of experienced guys in the backline and a lot of guys who are hungry as well, so it’ll be really good for us to give them that opportunity by getting front-foot ball.”
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Tshituka hailed the presence of 42-cap Bok Am in the mixed squad: “Lukhanyo Am has a calmness and brings a presence that only he can bring.
“I think it’s good that he can bring the composure…sometimes the younger guys just want to go, go, go, but he brings that balance.
“So I think it’s only good for me as a leader to be able to rely on him and to pull from him as well. I don’t feel this weight of leadership when I have him there.”
Bok coach Rassie Erasmus included 21 uncapped players in his extended 51-man group for their training camp and the double header in Gqeberha, with both the Bok and SA ‘A’ teams mixing experience and fresh talent for their first fixtures of the year.
Tshituka praised the work ethic and attitude of the newer players, describing the healthy state of South African rugby as a “golden era”.
“The honour is of the highest order, there is a responsibility that has been put on me as captain, so I want to carry that out to the best of my ability,” he said.
“It is definitely a golden era of youngsters; these kids are outstanding rugby players, and I think their ability to learn is something I have really been impressed with.
“So I am looking forward to playing alongside some of them and getting to know them on a personal level. I think SA rugby is in really good hands.”
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When asked how they were approaching the match against Zimbabwe, Tshituka said: “We have done as much analysis as we could do. There’s not as much depth as you usually have in a Test match, but we have done analysis.
“I think a lot of the guys are going to be hungry, and a lot of guys are fighting for a lot more; they are fighting for what we have here.
“We have a lot of opportunities here, contracts as well, so that’s never to be underestimated. We all know it’s one of South Africa’s powers…it means something when we go out onto the field.
“So I think for them going to a World Cup…there’s a lot they’ll need to prepare for. We also know a couple of the guys who’ll be playing, so there are some familiar faces.
“I think we have been really well prepared; this environment demands the best of you.”
