Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - England coach Eddie Jones certainly paid the two Springbok debutant wings Aphiwe Dyantyi and S’bu Nkosi a big compliment by comparing their speed to Usain Bolt out wide but the double blow of pace was eventually what brought the Springboks back from the brink after their terrible start in Saturday’s first Test.
Both wingers made stunning debuts after the Boks’ horrible start, and those who may have noticed them being used in tandem on attack, can only salivate at the prospect of what will happen when they are a bit older and more experienced, according to supersport.com website.
Both Dyantyi and Nkosi scored on debut but it was their supreme confidence, and - other than the opening 20 minutes of rugby - unwavering enthusiasm to find work that made their debuts special.
They certainly aren’t the finished article yet but on two occasions the Boks swung the ball their way in tandem on Saturday. The first, as one scribe in the UK put it, was a warning. The second led to Nkosi’s second try.
It will be premature to say the Boks may well have found their pace to inject into the game plan when they need it, something that Jones says makes the back three “very dangerous” on attack and it is no doubt both will continue to grow in their roles.
Both Dyantyi and Nkosi smiled when asked what they thought at 24-3 down. Both knew the Boks would win.
“It is a huge honour to score on my debut. Credit to the service we got from the inside backs and we blended well as the back three and we are very happy about that,” Nkosi said when chatting to the media afterwards.
“We always knew we were going to win. They presented a different challenge and it just needed for us to adapt and we did accordingly and gained dominance as the game went on.”
Nkosi didn’t give in to nerves, but found the whole experience exciting.
“I wasn’t nervous in the beginning. Obviously the team didn’t start on the front foot, the older guys did well to bring us into a circle and tell us to calm down it is test match rugby and does happen. The little amount of nerves I did experience they were diminished very quickly by the older guys,” he explained.
“It (his try) was very exciting, I did my best to get keep myself calm. It was very early in the game and I still had the entire game and I can’t get comfortable just because I’ve scored a try in the Springbok jersey.
“Yes I do (remember). With a burning chest it is hard to forget, it’s tough playing at altitude we did well it was tough. I think it is memorable and I won’t forget this game very soon,” he laughed.
Dyantyi summed it up perfectly when he said “I don’t think it gets better than that.”
“It definitely did (live up to expectation of Test match). The first quarter we didn’t start very well but the guys did well to regroup especially in the second quarter. We started getting an ascendency and the guys did well to control the game. It got frantic in the last 10 minutes but overall it was a good performance from the team and we can build on it,” he explained.
In the two speedsters, Rassie Erasmus has gambled and come out on top. He has the pace to inject into the game when he needs it and both wings have made indelible impressions on the Bok supporting public from last week.
And with a little more experience they can only get better.
