Fullback Aphelele Fassi has been handed a potential game-changing responsibility for Saturday’s Rugby Championship opener at Ellis Park – stepping in as the team’s backup goal-kicker in the unlikely event that Manie Libbok’s radar goes awry.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus confirmed that Fassi is among the kicking alternatives, a move designed to keep Libbok running the show from flyhalf without having to turn to the bench for a specialist kicker.
And the in-form fullback says he’s ready for the challenge.
“I’ve been practicing my kicking a lot, even before I joined the Boks this season, and I’m confident with the way things are going,” said Fassi.
“So, when coach Rassie told me that I’ll also be a kicking option, it was a matter of putting my head down and continuing to put in the work.”
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Fassi has also been gearing up for what he expects will be a bruising battle against the Wallabies, who boast both physical forwards and dangerous outside backs.
“We know it’s going to be a physical game, and with the backs they have, we are also expecting an expansive game,” he said.
“That said, just as they have their plans, we have ours, and we know what we have to do no matter what they throw at us because it’s important for us to play our brand of rugby.”
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With reports suggesting James O’Connor could start at flyhalf for Australia, Fassi insists the Springboks’ approach won’t change.
“It won’t change the way we want to play if they select him because we know what we want to do on the field. He’s a good player with a good skillset, and he’s played against us before, so for us it is all about doing things the Springbok way.”
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Photo: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images
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