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A new role and midfield partner excites Am ahead of Perth test

football14 August 2024 13:36
By:Brenden Nel
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Lukhanyo Am © Getty Images

After two World Cup winners medals and countless other highlights, you may expect that Lukhanyo Am has seen it all, and very little will excite him on a rugby field anymore.

But you would be wrong, because the prospect of playing alongside his long-time rival for the 13 jersey - Jesse Kriel - is something that allows him to get a little giddy along the way.

Am knows just what it takes for an outside centre to enjoy the space he needs on attack, and can’t wait to take the field with Kriel to put that into motion.

“I’m really looking forward to this test. Playing alongside a world-class player like Jesse is going to be amazing,” Am said at the team’s press conference on Wednesday.

“With my playing at 12 but having the understanding of what it’s like to play at outside centre, we will complement each other on both sides of the ball.

“It’s going to be our first time running at 12 and 13 together. Inside the camp, we’ve always worked together as centres. We are really excited about this.”

While moving from 13 to 12 may sound like an easy thing, the small adjustments make a lot of difference, and Am knows just how much the Boks use their inside centre as the first receiver to take the ball up into contact.

“There is a bit of a difference. But when it’s general play, like counter-attacking from kicks and defence, it’s pretty similar,” he explained.

“It will be a bit of an adjustment, but that will only be from the set pieces.

“From set piece, Doogz is the guy who gives us momentum and creates space for the outside backs. But that’s only from the set pieces. When it comes to general play, both roles are pretty similar.”

'HAPPY WHERE I'M AT'

Am has only played once since missing out on the World Cup selection because of injury - in the test against Portugal - where he impressed particularly on defence when the Boks were down to 13 men.

But while injuries have curtailed his time in the Green and Gold of late, he is content that he is in a good space going forward.

“Injuries are part of the game. I’ve just been unfortunate to pick up injuries at crucial times which put me in an awkward position with the Springboks and Sharks.

“I’m really happy with where I’m at now. I’m just really looking forward to this test.”

A lot of that has to do with the attacking options presented by new coach Tony Brown, who has looked to get the Boks to attack space more.

“We are moving the ball. We try attacking as a team when we have the space. We have more threats to the defence with all these attacking options that we are trying to implement in our game plan.

“We are in a good place. The new coaching staff is boosting the squad in terms of finding new ways to improve as a group. Having the depth of quality also helps, guys starting and the guys coming to finish games. It’s really a good place to be in as a squad.”

'LOOKING REAL COMFORTABLE'

Earlier coach Rassie Erasmus said Am’s appearance at 12 was more about giving Damian de Allende some much-needed rest, and to expand the options available for the squad.

“Damian has been playing - We’ve got all the minutes of the guys and how we want to manage them and keep the guys fresh,” Erasmus said.

“Although it’s test-match level, we did see when Lukhanyo moved to 12 (against Portugal) – and in the beginning of his career, he only played 12 and only later when he moved to the Sharks, he started playing 13.

“He’s played wing for us as well, and he certainly did really well when we down to 14 and 13 men at one stage against Portugal, playing inside. To change the team up and not lose momentum in the system. Jesse is excellent on defence and on attack. Lukhanyo was really good against Portugal and Damian probably needs a little bit of a rest, to put it bluntly, because the way he plays is really physical.

“We can’t expect him to play 14 test matches in a row like that. And obviously André Esterhuizen is not currently available, but then again, Handré Pollard, if everything goes according to plan, can slot in at 12.

“We have both Handré and Manie Libbok on the bench, and we do see Handré also as a possible 12. But Lukhanyo looks really comfortable.”

Am’s role as a senior player in a very inexperienced side will also be key as the Boks look to do back-to-back victories Down Under - a rare feat if achieved given their poor history against the Wallabies in Australia.

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