THE FINAL WHISTLE
MARK KEOHANE: Combrinck’s courage gives Lions and the Boks hope
‘Every exceptional team needs exceptional individuals whose most significant contributions come in the most testing of times’
Ruan Combrinck kicked the Lions into a home Super Rugby semifinal but more importantly he also kick-started the Springboks’ Rugby Championship campaign with his ownership of a moment that, on reflection, could be monumental in the context of the Springboks’ resurgence. Every exceptional team needs exceptional individuals whose most significant contributions come in the most testing of times. Combrinck, from the moment he played Test rugby, was influential in the big plays. He is a player who finds the out of the ordinary. He did so in his first international series against the Irish and this past weekend he showed the temperament and the skill set to drive home the Lions’ ambitions for a first Super Rugby title. Lions coach Johan Ackermann, in the aftermath of the Lions’ dramatic 23-21 semi-final win against the Sharks, admitted he didn’t think taking aim from 55m (on the angle of the kick) was the right decision. Ackermann said conservatism was his doubt at the time because he stil...
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