VIDEO: The surprise Springbok bolter?
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Rosko Specman’s arrival at the Stormers has been met with loads of excitement.
And that is not only in the Stormers’ setup but also for the Springboks.
Specman has joined the Stormers on a short-term loan deal from the Cheetahs.
Reportedly the move is to ensure that the 32-year-old gains some valuable game time as he is likely to be included in the 45-man Springbok squad to be announced on Saturday.
Having played for the Bulls and the Cheetahs, the BlitzBok has demonstrated to be a valuable addition to any squad.
Not only is the fleet-footed star dangerous on attack, but has proven to be a fearless player on defence.
However, his chances of making the Springboks starting line-up during the three-match Test series against the British and Irish Lions are very slim given the heaps of talent in the form of Cheslin Kolbe, Makazola Mapimpi and Sbu Nkosi in the team.
Nonetheless, the BlitzBok certainly has the qualities to get a nod for the South African ‘A’ side.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Stormers assistant coach Lebeeb Levy revealed his excitement of having Specman inside the camp.
“He has fitted in like a glove with our team,” Levy said.
“Especially with our outside backs. If you look at guys like Sergeal [Petersen], Seabelo [Senatla], Damian [Willemse] and Rosko, they are almost cut from the same cloth. They bring excitement in their natural play, but they are also gelling well with each other in terms of the team vibe.”
He added: “From a skills perspective, there are certain things you can’t coach these guys.
“If you are a defence coach, coming up with a plan to defend that type of player, building plans on what you think they are going to do and sometimes the player doesn’t even know what he is going to do, so how do you plan against that?
“So, it’s exciting and it’s good to see.”
*Article continues below…
No time for the sideshow
Meanwhile, Levy stated that despite the media frenzy around the Springboks squad announcement, he believes his side is not distracted and they are fully focused on their task of reaching the Rainbow Cup final.
The Stormers, currently second on the log, have a chance to draw level with the Bulls this weekend when the two teams face each other on Friday at Loftus Versfeld.
“They [the players] are pretty self-motivated, knowing that they have to put in good performances and train well because the Springbok coaches will be looking into that to see who is on form.
“I do think it is in the back of their minds: that if they train well, they can be selected, but I don’t see that selfishness.
“They know they have to do well over the next two weeks to raise their hands,” Levy added.
The skills coach also confirmed that all the players are fit and available for selection.
@rugby365com
