FAF DE KLERK: ‘I WANT TO MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY’ JULY 2020 2020 JULY ISSUE 272 ISSUE FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM @SARUGBYMAG @SARUGBYMAG INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER ON US FOLLOW OX NCHE BIG PLAYER BIGGER IMPACT! MARCELL COETZEE RESURGENT STAR EYES NEXT SPRINGBOK DREAM Pollard on the path to greatness UNSTOPPABLE MAKAZOLE JULY 2020 ISSUE 272 MAPIMPI R31.90 ( incl VAT) Other countries R27.74 (excl TAX) HOW HE BECAME BOKS’ LETHAL WEAPON Cover Final.indd 1 2020/06/04 1:02 PM Vascamen.indd 1 2020/06/03 11:33 ISSUE 272 Contents UNSTOPPABLE HANDRE POLLARD HAS PROGRESSED AS A PLAYER AND LEADER 18 BY JON CARDINELLI GOLDEN AFTERGLOW After an unforgettable World Cup, Faf 24 de Klerk is setting his sights on new goals BY CRAIG LEWIS LETHAL WEAPON SA Rugby magazine investigates what 28 makes Makazole Mapimpi so special BY SIMNIKIWE XABANISA ENDING THE DEBATE Stormers star Damian Willemse 32 is poised to be backed at flyhalf BY JON CARDINELLI WAITING GAME SA rugby looks to find a way back 38 from unprecedented challenges BY CRAIG LEWIS ON YOUR MARX A new role with the Boks and a challenging stint in 42 Japan has pushed Malcolm Marx in a new direction BRENDAN MORAN/GETTY IMAGES/GALLO IMAGES IMAGES/GALLO MORAN/GETTY BRENDAN BY JON CARDINELLI Contents_July272.indd 3 2020/06/04 08:36 NO HALF MEASURES The rugby community stepped up to aid 46 a host of worthy causes in a time of crisis BY CLINTON VAN DER BERG LION-HEARTED SPRINGBOK Marcell Coetzee hopes to tackle the British 50 & Irish Lions with the Springboks in 2021 BY CRAIG LEWIS IMPACT OF OX Ox Nche fi nds himself fi rmly on the Springbok 54 radar after a career-changing move to the Sharks BY MIKE GREENAWAY ON THE DOUBLE Two-time World Cup winner Frans Steyn LION-HEARTED GOLDEN 58 returns to South Africa with vast experience 50 SPRINGBOK 24 AFTERGLOW BY JAMIE LYALL CAUTIONARY TALE Back in the Cape, talented fl yhalf Kade Wolhuter 62 is targeting a fresh start with WP Rugby BY MARIETTE ADAMS FOND FAREWELL Newlands Stadium will be remembered as 68 one of the most iconic grounds in SA rugby BY DYLAN JACK SHIFTING LANES Former Springbok midfi elder Waylon Murray has 72 started a video podcast with global potential BY RYAN VREDE LEADING THE WAY New Zealand’s Super Rugby Aotearoa o ers 76 a framework for SA rugby to follow IMPACT BY CLINTON VAN DER BERG 54 OF OX OPTIONS APLENTY A closer look at talented youngsters with the 80 potential to provide the spine of a future Bok side BY DYLAN JACK 5 EDITOR’S LETTER REFUSING TO FAIL 7 SUBSCRIBE Former Sharks U18 prop Patrick Sikhosana 8 LINEBREAKS LETHAL 86 has followed a winding road to play in Spain 28 WEAPON BY DYLAN JACK 90 MY PERFECT XV JEAN STEFAN JON SIMNIKIWE RYAN DE VILLIERS TERBLANCHE CARDINELLI XABANISA VREDE It will be a joy to see focus My heart bleeds for It’s encouraging to finally SA rugby’s 21-day Could a 40-year-old shifting to the local game pupils in their last year see unity in the push for contractual exit window flyhalf be the next in South Africa of playing school sport a global season didn’t leave a good look frontier in rugby? 6 12 36 66 89 Contents_July272.indd 4 2020/06/05 8:30 AM Editorial Director Gary Lemke Group Deputy Sports Editor Philippa Byron Editor Craig Lewis Chief Rugby Writer Jon Cardinelli Senior Writer Mariette Adams Rugby received a much-needed boost Staff Writer Dylan Jack when New Zealand led the way with Copy Editors Mark Salter, Nick Krige Digital Media Manager Juandre Joubert the start of Super Rugby Aotearoa in Art Director Stuart Apsey June and Australia put in place plans for Designers Kyle Collison, Bulelani Kheswa, its domestic competition to kick off in July. Celest Alexander, Abduraghmaan Davids Cover Repro Adri Papakonstantinou And while it remains a waiting game in South Africa (see pages Contributors Mike Greenaway, Jean de Villiers, Jamie 38-41), there was hope of a return to training as the country moved Lyall, Stefan Terblanche, Clinton van der Berg, Ryan to level three of lockdown at the start of June. Vrede, Simnikiwe Xabanisa Production Manager Rushaan Holliday Here at SA Rugby magazine, and I’m sure like many of you at Deputy Production Manager Maggie Wasserfall home, we’re excited by signs of light after an extended period Ad Traffic Controller Sajidah Allie Ad Designer Manager Brumilda Fredericks without on-field action to entertain us over the weekends. Ad Designers Abduraouf Bessick, Dionne Wicks, Yet it’s also been a time to reflect on some of the untold stories, Tyrone Michaels and we hope you enjoy our cover feature on World Cup star Handre Director of Sports Sales Niall Meegan Advertising Sales Roy Lategan, Calvin Maconochie Pollard as some of his teammates and coaches provide fascinating Chief Executive Officer Kevin Ferguson insight into his progression as a player and leader. Managing Director Tony Walker Similarly, his halfback partner Faf de Klerk opens up about his Production Director Bilqees Allie experiences at the World Cup, while we also find out from those Financial Director Lindsey Makrygiannis HR Director Rizqah Jakoet close to Makazole Mapimpi just what makes him such a lethal wing. Debtors Manager Sharon Maneveld With the 2020 rugby season thrown into disarray as a result of CEO’s PA Kovi Naidoo Photography HM Images, BackpagePix, Gallo the coronavirus outbreak, many players have turned to the next Images, Getty Images (unless otherwise credited) big goal. Marcell Coetzee and Malcolm Marx are just a couple of Cover Photos Getty images/Gallo images Springbok stars who chat to us about their ambitions for the © Highbury Media (Pty) Ltd 2021 British & Irish Lions series, while we also take a closer 2004/031056/07, Highbury Media, 36 Old Mill Road, Ndabeni 7405, Cape Town, South Africa look at the careers of youngsters such as Damian Willemse SUBSCRIPTION RATE and Ox Nche, who could have Available monthly to TFG group account holders for R30.99 (incl VAT) per issue; key roles to play for the Non-TFG account holders (12 issues): R359 (incl VAT) national side in the Neighbouring states: R559; International: R859 SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES near future. TFG account holders: Phone (021) 938-7506, email [email protected], or SMS ‘SARUGBY’ On that note, check out and your account number to 45176 our chat with the highly- Non-TFG account holders: Phone (021) 416-0141, fax 086-567-1350, or email: [email protected] regarded young flyhalf Kade EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Wolhuter, who is returning Tel: (021) 416-0141 Fax: (021) 421-1250 email: [email protected] to the Cape, and our feature ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES in which we identify a host Tel: (021) 416-0141 Fax: (021) 418-0132 email: [email protected] of talented stars to keep an eye on (pgs 80-83). Distributed by We continue to keep you updated on the impact of Covid-19 on rugby, but also look at some of the ISSN 2519-0512. All material is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. Reproduction without permission is forbidden. Every inspirational outreach being care is taken in compiling the contents of this magazine but we assume no responsibility in the effect arising therefrom. The conducted at this time. views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. Enjoy the read and, most of all, keep safe! Craig Lewis MARK R. CRISTINO/BACKPAGEPIX 5 SAR272 Editorial.indd 5 2020/06/02 1:21 PM THE JEAN DE VILLIERS COLUMN DOMESTIC BLISS THE COVID-19 CRISIS AND THE DIFFICULTY OF TRAVEL MAY FORCE RUGBY NATIONS TO RE-EVALUATE THEIR LOCAL COMPETITIONS he Covid-19 crisis has presented well as mentall y possible Test rugby with a number of setbacks matches later in the year. and challenges in recent months. It will be interesting to see how much At the same time, it has created international rugby is played in 2020, though. We have a lot to be proud of in terms of our talent opportunities that may not have While some countries have been given the green and brand of rugby. What better way to showcase Tarisen in normal circumstances. light to host sporting contests behind closed that than in a six-team domestic tournament? Plans are afoot to reintroduce players to the doors, it may be some time before we see Test All the big names will be looking to prove a point game via local tournaments in countries around and Super Rugby teams crossing borders. in this competition. Fringe players who may have the world. New Zealand will stage a five-team Travelling overseas is going to be extremely flown under the radar due to the surfeit of rugby domestic tournament. South Africa and other difficult with the quarantine protocols in place. could also benefit from this exposure. nations will follow suit as soon as the threat I viduals self-isolating for two weeks I orward to an all-South African of infection has diminished and the players and resuming their preparations shortly before tournament that will lend new meaning to the are conditioned for the challenge. their first tour fixtur I ve. When phr ength versus str ving said It must be frustrating for the South Africans you start to think about other logistical problems, that, player welfare must be a priority when to see the Kiwis g such as access to replacements in the event of assessing the conditions and ensuring everyone new season.