Rugby
Libbok ready to meet the challenge─── MORGAN PIEK 08:19 Fri, 07 Jul 2023
The Springbok flyhalf, Manie Libbok, is relishing the opportunity to be playing in a starting role when they tackle the Wallabies in Pretoria on Saturday in the Rugby Championship.
The Stormers' pivot will be in a one-on-one battle against the 35-year-old Wallabies flyhalf, Quade Cooper, and there are quietly a lot of similarities between the two players.
Cooper, who has recovered from an Achilles injury, will be playing against the Springboks for the first time in a decade, and he will be a tricky customer to deal with.
Libbok, in his own right, is a very unpredictable and illusive player to deal with and he certainly has the ability to create a lot out of nothing.
Libbok will pair up with Cobus Reinach in the halfback combination and this on its own should be quite exciting.
Libbok said there is a lot of pressure on this for the Test, but he welcomes the challenge that lies ahead.
“This is a big opportunity for me,” said Libbok.
“There will be a massive amount of pressure on me in this game, but I just want to go out there and contribute in my role as much as possible, and hopefully we can get the desired result.
“I know they’ll target me, but I’ve made peace with that, and the pressure.
“That said, I’ve taken a lot of confidence in my preparation for this match, and the main thing for me is to control what I can control.
“I’ll have a few experienced players around me, which is also a bonus.”
Saturday’s 93rd Test between the Boks and Wallabies will be played at Loftus Versfeld and kicks off at 17:05.
Springboks – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements – 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Evan Roos, 21 Deon Fourie, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Damian Willemse.
Wallabies - 15 Tom Wright, 14 Suliasi Vunivalu, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Reece Hodge, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 David Porecki, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements - 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Richie Arnold, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Samu Kerevi, 23 Carter Gordon.
