Lambie has been awesome with advice – Radebe
WERNER KOK still has many years to be part of the Springbok Sevens side and maybe even upgrade his bronze medal to a gold one, but the Olympian believes that it is now time for him to make a transition into the 15-man game.
Kok made his senior debut for Western Province in their 36-6 win over the Eastern Province Kings in Port Elizabeth last Saturday, three years after wearing the at Under-19 level.
But Kok didn’t look rusty at all. He started on the right wing and looked dangerous with ball in hand and also crossed over the whitewash for a try, but the five-pointer was disallowed due to a forward pass in the build-up.
“It was something new again. The guys next to me on the field made it so much easier, the coaching staff right next to the field as well. They kept on talking to me. I’m happy. There’s still so many things I can do better but I think that will come with time.
“It would have been sweet if I had scored a try in my first Currie Cup match,” a smiling Kok said at a press conference at WP’s training ground in Bellville on Monday.
Kok added that while he is still contracted with the Blitzboks for two more years, he now wants to shift his focus to the Currie Cup.
“At this moment I’m here for the Currie Cup. I think it’s time to make that transition, but we’ll see in the future how it goes,” he said. WP coach John Dobson had previously said that Kok could be used at outside centre, but he would prefer to ease him into the 15-man game and play him on the wing. When asked if he would prefer to wear the No 13 jersey, Kok said: “I think only time will tell that. We have brilliant outside and inside centres. With Dan (du Plessis) out it is tough, but I’m sure there are a few centres there that can back up, but like I said, only time will tell.”
Despite Dobson having praised Kok’s strength (saying that it helps WP keep the ball up) and his ability at the breakdowns, the 23-year-old feels that there are still many areas of his game that he needs to improve on.
“I think small things, like just closing the space at the back and working back and not just standing in the line defending and trying to steal all the loose balls that go to the ground. There are different things, like staying out of the breakdown,” he said.
“I’m one of those guys that like cleaning and stealing balls, but with forwards like Tazz (Fuzani, EP Kings lock), if you try and clean them out you’ll end up on the 22 from the half-way line. And just to run off the backs like Cheslin (Kolbe). If he attacks, get on his inside and play like we do at the Sevens. I just have to fill my role and open the space.” Kok added that Sevens teammate and WP fullback Kolbe has made the initial step into his transition much easier.
“With a guy like Cheslin it’s always easier, it’s always just phenomenal. If you can learn to run off him when he does his thing and you can choose a space where he can give the ball to you... he’ll always open a gap for you somewhere,” Kok said. REMOVE elder statesmen Odwa Ndungane and Lwazi Mvovo from the Sharks’ backline equation and you have an average age of 21.
So, one can understand why Sharks CEO Gary Teichmann addressed an 18 000-strong Kings Park crowd last Saturday and promised that patience with this young team will pay dividends in time.
The Sharks are trying to lay the foundations for something special. Against the Blue Bulls last week, 20-year-old fullback Curwin Bosch, centres Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen (both 22) and scrumhalves Stefan Ungerer (22) and Hanco Venter (23) were marshalled by 21-year-old flyhalf Inny-Christian Radebe.
All of them have played either Craven Week, SA Schools or SA Under-20, or in some cases all three. The potential is rich, and if they can be kept together, the Sharks’ future could be bright.
Radebe completed his apprenticeship at the Sharks Academy before his elevation to the Currie Cup. He says Sharks coach Robert du Preez has given the
freedom to express themselves. “The coach wants to take the team down the road of running rugby and he has given us licence to attack,” the self-assured Radebe said.
“He has told us that mistakes will happen as we embrace this style of rugby, but he has backed us to give it a full go, while trying to become more efficient each week.”
Radebe, has been with the Sharks since he matriculated from St Stithians College in Johannesburg. He previously played two years of Craven Week rugby for the Golden Lions.
“I had hoped to crack it at Super Rugby level this year but I suffered a knee cartilage injury early in the season,” he said. “But it has worked out well for me.
“I’m pleased that I worked my way through the various age-groups at the Sharks before getting this chance at Currie Cup level. It enabled me to mature at a good pace, and I now feel confident at Currie Cup level.”
Radebe reckons that his brother influenced him to pursue an interest in rugby.
“He is 10 years older than me and thrust a rugby ball in my hands just about as soon as I was capable of holding onto it,” he recalled.
“I was running around with the ball from the age of three or so. I played my first game (of mini-rugby) at the age of six.” Radebe reveals that Springbok pivto and Sharks captain Pat Lambie has had the biggest influence on his career at the Shark Tank.
“I watched Pat play when I was at high school and thought he was exceptional, and next thing I was rubbing shoulders with him,” he said. “He has been awesome with the advice he so readily gives.”
The Sharks are unbeaten in the Currie Cup after four rounds, and they travel to Newlands to face Western Province on Saturday.
“Province have not had the best start to the Currie Cup, but they are winning again and they will come really hard at us,” Radebe said. “I think it was vital for us that we held out the Bulls last week.
“They could have taken the game in the last quarter but we held firm, and that has given us a big boost of confidence. We’ll need that in Cape Town.”