TEST RUGBY
Coenie Oosthuizen learns how to walk tall as tighthead
The Coenie Oosthuizen puzzle has been one that has long confused and polarised the fickle South African rugby public. Originally a loosehead prop‚ the 28-year-old from Potchefstroom was moved to tight-head‚ one of the most difficult‚ if not the most difficult position on the rugby field. More often than not‚ it is a position that requires the incumbent to have growth time in the No3 jersey from early school level before the necessary refinement. With Oosthuizen being tall‚ adjusting to the position was never going to be easy and the teething process has been somewhat difficult. That also explains why Oosthuizen has only started six of his 28 Tests since his debut against England in Durban in 2012. With incumbent Frans Malherbe out injured and Trevor Nyakane free-styling between the No1 and No3 jerseys‚ there is a pitched but necessary internal battle between the more experienced Oosthuizen and the talented Ruan Dreyer. Springbok scrum coach Matt Proudfoot has been impressed by Oosth...
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