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Cheslin Kolbe's unexpected triumph as SA Rugby Player of the Year highlights his incredible journey and the fierce competition he faced
Cheslin Kolbe's unexpected triumph as the 2024 SA Rugby Player of the Year highlights his dedication and ambition, as he aims for even greater success in the upcoming season.
Kolbe surprised everyone by winning the SA Rugby Player of the Year award, outshining top competitors like Pieter-Steph du Toit and Eben Etzebeth.
Steven Kitshoff's retirement leaves a significant gap at loosehead prop for the Springboks. However, it's not all doom and gloom.
The Sharks, despite boasting some of URC's top-ranked players, face a crucial match against the Bulls with a depleted squad due to injuries and Springbok protocols. Key players like URC's most valuable player Ox Nche will be notably absent as coach John Plumtree seeks to maintain their fourth-place position.
The 29-year-old Ox Nche said his side will have to be alert to the danger of the explosive Toulouse and France scrumhalf Antoine Dupont.
As the Sharks prepare to face Toulouse in a thrilling Champions Cup fixture, Ox Nche shares insights on the clash of rugby styles and the formidable threat posed by Antoine Dupont.
Sharks star Ox Nche said that what makes Toulouse arguably the best club team in the world is that they are the opposite of a one-trick pony.
Pieter-Steph du Toit has been nominated alongside Damian de Allende, Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche, and Cheslin Kolbe for the SA Rugby Player of the Year award.
Siya Kolisi has been picked at No 8 for the match against the Stormers, a position he has played earlier in the season for the Durban side.
While Erasmus has every right to be aggrieved, the Boks otherwise had a fine Sunday evening capped by Pieter-Steph du Toit’s award, with Chelsin Kolbe and Eben Etzebeth finalists.
Before the start of the Springboks’ end-of-year tour, they invited a small army of British journalists to the Channel Island of Jersey where Rassie Erasmus conducted a charm offensive aimed at changing the Boks’ reputation as the game’s “bullies”.
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander was glowing in his praise of Pieter-Steph du Toit and Eben Etzebeth, Cheslin Kolbe, Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel following the World Rugby Awards.
World Rugby’s Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit is also one of seven Springboks who were included in the Men’s 15s Dream Team of the Year.
Steven Kitshoff, who hasn’t featured for the Springboks since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final against the All Blacks, said the injury happened during a normal scrum.
World Rugby’s continued exclusion of props from the Men’s Player of the Year nominations raises questions about their appreciation for the scrum and the talents of players like Ox Nche.
The Springboks’ front-row reshuffle will see Wilco Louw returning to the starting team at tighthead prop, while Thomas du Toit will move across to the loosehead side.
The Hendrikse brothers will become the 36th set of siblings to play for the Springboks when they partner up at halfback at the Principality Stadium.
Ox Nche, who was forced to leave the field with a cut on his leg in the win over England last weekend, would participate in training this week and is available for selection.
In a year where coach Rassie Erasmus has rotated heavily, loosehead Ox Nche was a constant figure in the Springboks’ matchday squads.
Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi praised the fighting spirit of his side after their 29-20 over England in their Test match at Twickenham, in London, on Saturday.
The Sharks’ Springboks may feature in their upcoming home games against defending URC champions Glasgow Warriors and 2023 winners Munster.
IOL Sport’s John Goliath makes a list of the Springboks who should make it to the World Cup, those that are borderline and the players who are unlikely to play.
As the rugby world fixates on Antoine Dupont, there is a compelling case for three Springboks – Ox Nche, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Cheslin Kolbe – as deserving contenders for World Rugby’s Player of the Year.
“It’s time for Ramaphosa, the GNU, Steenhuisen and all other parties to realise, we need healing in South Africa, such as the likes of Kolisi and Rassie’s Springboks successes, and the tremendous impact it has had on our emotional well-being as a nation of sports lovers. ”