Mannie Libbok lays claim to South Africa's best No 10 with absolutely world class try
Recently capped Springbok Mannie Libbok returned to action with the Stormers after the November internationals and made the Dragons look inept with one of the tries of the season.
The Stormers had already scored one spectacular long-range effort before Libbok's try, a team movement sparked by a Hacjivah Dayimani offload down the left side to free up speedster Leolin Zas.
Zas broke away down the touchline before linking up with fullback Clayton Blommetjies, who casually popped a one hand pass back inside to centre Ruhan Nel to finish a blockbusting play.
Then came another stunning effort from the new Springboks' flyhalf.
Up already by 21-0, Libbok took matters into his own hands from around halfway on a Stormers scrum feed. The flyhalf sharply stepped inside twice, beating the Dragons halves, before a third left foot step beat the covering wing.
Without a Dragons' loose forward in sight, Libbok coasted away for the last 20 metres calling for teammates to join him for the put down. He celebrated for the Cape Town crowd with arms raised pointing to the sky triumphantly.
Libbok's try put the defending URC champs up 28-0 with five minutes remaining in the half, with proceedings turning into a bloodbath.
The Stormers' flyhalf was looking dangerous all afternoon, threatening the Dragons on more than one occasion.
The Dragons miraculously pulled things back, starting with an intercept try right on half-time by Dragons' wing Jordan Williams from a Libbok pass.
The second half was all Dragons as the Welsh club put on 19 points while the Stormers managed two penalties.
Libbok's outstanding attacking play has increased the pressure on the Springboks' management to find a place for him in the squad, whilst also making a case for starting over incumbent Handre Pollard and his club teammate Damian Willemse.
The 25-year-old has found a new lease on his rugby career after stints at the Bulls and Sharks where he wasn't able to find the form that he is now showing at the Stormers.
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Yes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
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