News

Nokwe ready for aerial bombardment

August 07 2008

Despite being on debut this weekend South Africa's latest flying wing, Jongi Nokwe, is clever enough to realise what tactics the Pumas will utilise on him - the high ball.

South Africa play host to Argentina on Saturday at Coca-Cola Park in a game to mark Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday.

Nokwe, who comes in for the injured Bryan Habana, is expecting Argentina to target him with an aerial bombardment to test his nerves and hands.

Further more he is aware of the expectations that come with wearing the number eleven jersey - a shirt that Habana has made his own with some scintillating performances over the past few years.

"It is huge pressure to replace Bryan and Argentina will see the new guy on the wing and will try to test me with kicks," Nokwe told reporters.

"But the last couple of years, I've been working on the high ball and my kicking, so I'm ready.

"Other people might be comparing me to Bryan on Saturday, but I'm just going to concentrate on playing my normal game."

It is not Nokwe's first involvement with the Springboks, having previously toured Great Britain, Ireland and Argentina, but never having featured in a Test match.

The closest the Free State Cheetahs wing got to a Springbok cap was coming on as a replacement for a South African XV against a World XV in 2006.

"I've been coming close to getting my cap since 2004 but unfortunately I didn't quite make it," Nokwe added.

"But Saturday is my chance and I'll finally be able to wear the blazer."

Having traded the Stormers for the Cheetahs Nokwe, who clocks 4.62 seconds over 40 metres, is enjoying something of a renaissance. Despite representing a team who managed just one victory in this year's Super 14 he finished second in the try scoring stakes.

"The confidence I got from the Super 14 is going to help me a lot. I played good rugby then and I believe I can do the same thing on Saturday," Nokwe said.