Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has sprung to Manie Libbok’s defence about his goal-kicking that has become the centre of focus in the aftermath of the Boks win over Scotland on Sunday.
Libbok missed three kicks and was eventually replaced in kicking duties by Faf de Klerk as the Boks won an arm wrestle 18-3 against a motivated Scottish side to open their World Cup defence on a high.
But Libbok’s kicking per centage continues to frustrate and without any viable flyhalf options in the squad, it is understandable that it has become a talking point around the Boks’ World Cup campaign.
Libbok’s play outside the goalkicking has been sublime and he was a large part of the Bok victory over Scotland, highlighted by his no-look kick-pass to put Kurt-Lee Arendse away for the Boks' second try.
Pure perfection from Manie Libbok 🤩
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 10, 2023
Kurt-Lee Arendse didn't even have to break stride#RWC2023 | #RSAvSCO pic.twitter.com/zRoMg8Xv5T
And it wasn’t surprising that he won man of the match for his general play that has seen the Bok backline look more dangerous than ever.
So while it has become a repeated talking point surrounding Springbok matches and there is a fear that it may well become costly as the Rugby World Cup goes on, the Boks themselves aren’t too concerned - at least in public - about it.
Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber had an easy message for the detractors, saying it wasn’t a concern “as long as he wins man of the match awards,” with a smile.
'WE WORK TOGETHER'
But captain Siya Kolisi felt right to step in and defend his flyhalf from all the questions when it happened.
"This question about missing kicks gets asked a lot,” Kolisi said. "We play as a team and sometimes you’re not good at one thing on the day.
"But the way Manie attacked, the way he took control of the team, how he was a general, people forget that and they remember the missed kicks.
"Faf can kick, Cheslin (Kolbe) can kick. If someone’s lacking somewhere, somebody else takes over. It’s the same for me, sometimes I don’t know what to call in the game, Duane (Vermuelen) or Eben (Etzebeth) or Manie will make the call.
"If someone’s lacking somebody else picks up. He’s not going to be good at everything every single game. That’s why we work together, (and) don’t get stressed about it."
"We work together as a group, nobody stresses and we move on" 👊#Springboks #StrongerTogether #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/6X4st3hsg0
— Springboks (@Springboks) September 11, 2023
Scotland coach Gregor Townsend said Libbok was "a threat with no-look kicks and a variety to his game, accuracy as well as his kicking game".
It is clear though that Libbok’s goalkicking - until a consistent successor appears - may well be one of the few concerns that Bok fans have at the moment.
However, that it isn’t something that is keeping the Boks awake at night.