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Cape Town – There were several other worthy of "honorable mentions" along the track of the 14 tests, but in the end I found it rather difficult to find a three-player podium for the first Springbok players in 2018 .
Indeed, even establishing the final hierarchical order for the trio did not prove too difficult … at least, I saw things.
The common denominator, far from unimportant, was that the three matches started were extremely consistent – as good as any other? – during the rising and falling season, which nevertheless provided sufficient light for a competitive 2019 RWC of the Boks.
Here is the selection:
OR: Pieter-Steph du Rooftop
Du Roof, based in Stormers, then began the 2018 test campaign in a relative no man's land: he was running an essentially "reserve" – and end-to-end – combo in the international controversial and diluted against Wales in Washington. DC while most of the elite troops planned by Erasmus Rbadie were resting for the first home test against England a week later.
But the unpretentious man from Swartland ended up appearing on the park in the decisive stoppage of Johannesburg (42-39 victory), replacing Jean-Luc du Preez on the side of the blindside 50.th minute … and never really looked back from there.
The No. 7 jersey became his home, although his versatility always saw him second-best from time to time as a result of injuries and other considerations.
Du Toit, 26, has figured uniquely in all 2018 tests, starting at 12 and with eight of them on the scrum side, where he would have been perhaps the first blind in the world rankings. the year in terms of routine visibility and sometimes a breathtaking trap. -rate.
He did a bunch of tackles in his adoption slot … including up to 28, according to at least one barometer of statistics, in Wellington's famous triumph over New Zealand, where his tears post-match (filmed) have said. a lot about his combination of joy and total exhaustion.
Du Toit has also been tremendous in the follow-up of the champagne caliber by Loftus against the world champions, undeniable sign of its huge development in the flank role.
He deliberately lost a few kilograms in 2018 to give more energy to his game – as evidenced by inspired retransmissions when the Boks were besieged – and should appear even more complete at seven years for his rehabilitation, if you wish. like, continue in 2019.
SILVER: Aphiwe Dyantyi
The elegant left had already shown a regular and pleasant effervescence in the Lions Super Rugby campaign, where they lost the finalists for the third time in a row.
But we still did not know what to expect during his rise to international rugby: he won his first cap (then 23) in 11th place against England on his home ground at Emirates Airline Park – an 81-point rollercoaster the Boks peeking from a seriously uncertain start (3-24 once).
Dyantyi was trapped in a defensive sense – like others – in the first blitz in England, and to tell the truth, it's a brand that has never completely disappeared in his case as the season continued. ; expect vigorous remedial work for "the year of the World Cup".
But, what is very important, the Lions lack nothing in terms of defense, including courage and commitment, including a willingness to put his body on the line to challenge the ball in the back, whether forward or backward, so that the Gremlins may disappear. with some speed as his test trip advances in 2019.
The positives, however, outweighed the drawbacks of his first campaign in gold and green … and would have played a decisive role in his rise a few days ago for World Rugby, "Player of the Year". 39, year par excellence.
Even in this remarkable first confrontation with England, Dyantyi had demonstrated his composure (and his reluctance to be disconcerted by early trauma) by showing his offensive power, sometimes even in the most restricted spaces.
In addition to being on the busy test sheet of the game in the 64th For a minute, he had made a clever pbad inside the clash of points of one of S'bu Nkosi's allies.
As elusive and as changeable as any large raider exposed in 2018, Dyantyi then recorded six tries and his 13 trials: a fast hit rate on the long road leading to the legendary Bryan Habana's simulation (67 to from 124 trials) as a prolific Bok left wing …
BRONZE: Handre Pollard
In a way, Pollard seems to be a mainstay of Springbok rugby and first clbad rugby in general.
But consider that he is still only 24, highlighting the very realistic possibility that his most successful years are even better.
Now holding 39 caps Bok, 2018 has proven to be his most prolific year in terms of appearing before the tests: he won 13, beating the 11 ambaded in the last year of the World Cup (2015) .
That says a lot about how he managed to make himself a leader in the lion's share of Erasmus's first year as the mastermind of the national team.
Yes, there were two games where it was limited to the dissidents, although one was the draw between Newlands Test and England, when the coach decided to watch the rainy match of Elton Jantjies .. equitably, not in this player's favorite environment.
But in a nutshell, Pollard was a reliance on reliability at number 10, seeming to take up much of the trust and gaming management potential that had made it a name also used enthusiastically by experts and level enthusiasts alike. of the IRB Junior World Championship, then (rare) three years.
While it is true that the Boks often looked too barren throughout the game this year, I would say that it was very rarely something that we could place specifically to the pivot door.
He has tended, personally, to generate a promising breakthrough with his willingness to attack the winning line as a robust and often intrepid physical specimen, endowed with an authority and intelligence of more in larger, and his strike on the ground also gained in precision. developed.
I thought the big turnaround came after Argentina's two rugby league matches, when the Bulls player was overwhelmed: he has become a more and more rejuvenated presence in almost every field.
Pollard certainly had a memorable European tour at the end of the season, having been largely comfortable in all four matches – and particularly influential in consecutive wins against France and Scotland.
He is, in the market, an inviting option for Inner Center, where he seemed accomplished when Jantjies was summoned to play the half-substitute role as a substitute in the second half and the pair was matched with a striking fluidity.
* Follow our editor on Twitter: @ RobHouwing
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