'World-class' Simelane needs to be backed

If ever the Emirates Lions needed a boost in a topsy-turvy season, midfielder Wandisile Simelane handed it to them on Friday night.

A try and a hand in three others, Simelane set the bar high for what is expected in terms of attacking play in South Africa and certainly should have settled the debate about his skills within his own team at least.

There has been growing frustration outside the Lions camp at the handling of such a prodigious homegrown talent, all but ignored in Vodacom Super Rugby at the beginning of the year when he never was given a look-in.

Then the break came and despite some discussions with the Springbok management team – who see Simelane as a future Springbok and want to facilitate his development more, he was ignored for the opening two games of the Super Rugby Unlocked fixture as well.

The cancellation of the game against the Toyota Cheetahs was supposed to be Simelane’s chance to return but he finally got the chance on Friday night and did he use it!

Critics may point out that he was operating behind a pack on the front foot and two of the try assists came from turnovers, but Simelane simply showed why he is one of the best in the country when it comes to attacking play and why he needs to be on the park to prove it.

The Lions are blessed with a number of midfielders, but while Dan Kriel and Burger Odendaal are solid players that wouldn’t let the side down, they don’t possess the x-factor that Simelane does, and it should be up to the Lions to unlock that.

Fourteen carries for 82 metres on Friday night underlined the depth of his involvement. Five clean breaks and four try assists show why he was an easy candidate for man of the match. On defence three missed tackles is a negative, and shows an area he needs to work on in a position which is arguably the most difficult to defend on a rugby field.

But on Friday night it did not matter as the Lions dominated the game and returned from the Covid break to get their first victory at home, and a massive boost to their fortunes after all the off-field drama.

This week they have the Bulls, who are in red-hot form and will test them in every department. But they have every reason to be confident going into the game, especially with the form that Simelane is in currently.

It was unsurprising that coach Ivan van Rooyen described his performance as “world class” on Friday night, but what Simelane now needs is an extended run to develop his talent further.

“Wandi had a great game, but there were others who had a great game as well,” Van Rooyen said after the game.

“We know how dangerous he can be if he has the ball in space. He is an exciting talent and the display was world-class.”

The Bulls will be his next test, and a very different one to facing Griquas. But Simelane needs the backing now to inspire the Lions to even greater heights.