VIDEO: The evolution of Libbok
REACTION: Stormers coach John Dobson believes Manie Libbok is growing in confidence with each game due to the support he is getting.
The 24-year-old produced a flyhalf masterclass for the Cape side in their 32-10 over the Lions in Johannesburg.
He was calming presence in the backline and his kicking game was on point at Ellis Park.
At one stage he produced a sensational 50:22 kick, which put the visitors in an excellent position in the build-up to Seabelo Senatla’s try.
Did Manie Libbok kick the biggest 50:22 of all-time? 👀#URC | #LIOvSTO | @THESTORMERS pic.twitter.com/lI8kvPV5Ef
— United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) February 12, 2022
Dobson believes Libbok has grown with the players around him.
“He is playing with Warrick [Gelant] and Damian [Willemse],” said Dobson.
“They are just speaking the whole time, so he knows he can drop into the backfield, and he knows if he is not there [No.10] then Warrick can be [the] first receiver.
“We just said to him: ‘You are our flyhalf and you are going to be our flyhalf for the foreseeable future’.
“We had a bit of pain in Durban a couple of weeks ago.
“I think we can all admit that Manie wasn’t great, but straight after the game I told him he is starting at flyhalf in the next game and he is starting at flyhalf at Ellis Park and I think he has probably learnt a lot by being settled.”
Sergeal Petersen is just on 🔥
Tell us something @THESTORMERS can’t do 😏#URC | #LIOvSTO pic.twitter.com/rZhs44in3i
— United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) February 12, 2022
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Centre stage
Meanwhile, there was a spotlight on Damian Willemse in the No.12 jersey.
Willemse’s inclusion in the midfield meant that the in-form Dan du Plessis played off the bench, but Dobson believes the competition for places is a good problem to have going forward.
“It’s going to be tricky for us not to have Damian and Warrick on the field.
“It will be hard to justify it to the bookkeepers if nothing else,” Dobson explained.
“They are two big players, but it’s a great problem to have when Dan produces a performance like last week [against the Sharks] and even today [Saturday, off the bench] he was really good again and he can also play 13.
“We played Ruhan Nel every minute of every game except for the last three or four minutes [against the Lions] when he got himself a rest [yellow card].
“It’s gone according to plan.
“With Damian Willemse for some reason the guy gets some sort of [negative] attention that I don’t know he deserves because he is so good and professional.
“I think he played for South Africa at No.12 and I think No.12 can be really exciting for him.”
@rugby365com
📸 Anton Geyser
🚨 URC Trivia Alert@THESTORMERS are unbeaten in their last four away games since their 18-34 defeat to Munster in Limerick in October ⚡️#URC | #LIOvSTO pic.twitter.com/9z0BN4bC3e
— United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) February 12, 2022
