Hero of the week: Andre Esterhuizen

What do you do when you’re not the first choice 12 in the side but you want to make an impression?

Easy, you keep delivering exceptionally high-quality performances on the field and off it.

And for Andre Esterhuizen - Harlequins’ “agent of chaos” - this mantra has served him well in his time at the Springboks this year.

It would be easy to give the hero of the week award to Deon Fourie, whose tenacious switch to hooker and all-round workhorse performance was the highlight of a tough win over Tonga on Sunday to give the Springboks one foot in the playoff rounds.

But in the midfield, against some quality opposition, it was Esterhuizen who stood out.

While we are all aware of his high-powered leg-drive runs, it was the subtle touches - the offloads and the awareness that made it even better.

This international season has seen some of the best of Esterhuizen’s form, and his partnership with Canan Moodie in the absence of Lukhanyo Am has been a particular highlight.

Esterhuizen’s ball carrying was once again a highlight, topping the game stats with an impressive 95 metres, often with half the Tongan team on his shoulder. And his 12 carries often took the Boks over the advantage line, and was just one behind Fourie’s man of the match stat.

Esterhuizen often gets overlooked as a one-trick pony but during this season and in particular on Sunday he dispelled that notion once again and for that, he is our hero of the week.