A 19-year-old playing loosehead prop for only two years is expected to have a tough time in Varsity Cup scrums, but Tuks's Cebolenkosi Dlamini proved to be no pushover.
So far, he has given as good as he got each time he packed down to scrum. He actually relishes it to be involved in the "dark arts" of scrumming. An adrenaline rush to him is to get a tighthead prop to go backwards.
His challenge tomorrow is to intimidate Maties' tighthead in the Varsity Cup semifinal. If he does, it could help to impact the outcome of the game. It is the first time Dlamini will take to the field to play against Maties.
"From listening to my teammates and seeing videos of Maties play, I know it is going to be a tough encounter. But we as a team are in good 'space'. We can win, but then we got to limits the mistakes we make."
Dlamini's aim was not always to be one of the strong men on the field. Two years ago at Maritzburg College, he was still playing centre. It meant he had to be the master of sidestepping and dummying. He only switched to playing prop in 2019. The same year he got selected for the KwaZulu Natal Under-18 Academy Week team. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic he did not really get to play last year.
When watching videos of his plays, it becomes clear he is a physical presence on the field. One memorable moment was when a teammate launched himself into the air to catch the ball. Dlamini was there to support. For a second or two, Dlamini was standing there holding his teammate high above his head as a weightlifter would do. Then he lets him down gently.
There is also not just stopping the Tuks forward if he has the ball in hand. He can overrun defenders with brute force, and he has not forgotten the skills he learned as a centre. When he goes for a tackle, the opponents stay down.
According to Dlamini, he still has a lot to learn before claiming to be a good prop.
"The most important thing is to gain experience. Most of the props I play against are two to four years older than I am. So they already know the tricks of the trade. That is why I am grateful to be at Tuks. The coaches are always prepared to help me in one on one sessions. It helps me to play with more confidence. I have also been analysing videos of what is happening in international rugby."
To relax, the Tuks loosehead prop loves going to the gym "playing" around lifting heavyweight bars. Currently, he can bench 180kg.
Dlamini, who grew up in Greytown, describes himself as always being a "wild child". That is why he was attracted to playing rugby. To use his own words, he could not wait to get physical. Seeing the Springbok legend Tendai Mtawarira play definitely contributed to his passion. He aimed to emulate his hero's heroics.
"I made 'history' when I took up rugby. No one in my family ever considered doing so. I will always be grateful for how my parents have been supporting me through my rugby journey. They even became passionate about the game."
The kickoff for the Tuks versus Maties semifinal is at 17:00. CUT and the Northwest Eagles play at 19:00 at the Tuks stadium. The Varsity Cup-final is played on Monday.