Cape Town - He will turn 28 in July, which makes one wonder what the Springboks have missed in recent years by not having Lionel Mapoe at outside centre.
Undoubtedly the best South African No 13 over the last two years at least, Mapoe has had to come through the difficulty of leaving his team to continue playing Super Rugby when the Johannesburg-based outfit were relegated for the 2013 season, when he turned out for the Bulls.
But since Johan Ackermann’s team has been back at the top table of southern-hemisphere rugby, the former Free State Craven Week and SA Under-20 player has excelled and was unlucky to miss out on the Bok World Cup team last year.
Mapoe did make his Test debut, but it was just for the last few seconds of the 27-20 Rugby Championship defeat to the All Blacks at Ellis Park last July. Jesse Kriel was favoured in midfield, but another spectacular Super Rugby campaign is likely to have pushed Mapoe to the front of the queue for next Saturday’s first Test against Ireland at Newlands.
Allister Coetzee will name his first match-23 next Wednesday, but for now, attack coach Johann van Graan has been suitably impressed during the first few days of the Boks’ training camp in Stellenbosch.
Mapoe sat out Tuesday’s training, but didn’t appear to nurse any serious injury as he was on the field with the rest of the backs and paid close attention to the passing and kicking drills that were being executed.
“You will have to speak to the medical team about that, but we had a gym session this morning and now a field session. I think the big thing is about the management of players individually. They are in the middle of the season and they’ve been exposed to a lot of bumps and bruises,” Van Graan said.
“It’s about managing the individual, and at some stages, the medical team will pull guys out.
“One thing I can say about Lionel Mapoe is that he was fantastic in Monday’s session – he ran some brilliant lines and flip it, what a brilliant rugby player.
“Just look at the weekend’s performance… I think he’s been consistent over the year and if he gets selected for next Saturday – he’s only had the one Test, with just a few seconds on (the field), and I can’t wait to see him play, whether it’s from the bench or in a starting role.”
Mapoe can form a deadly centre combination with Damian de Allende, who looks to have found his best form again after a slow return following a three-month layoff with an ankle injury.
De Allende made a strong impact in the Stormers’ defeat to the Bulls at Loftus a fortnight ago, and was even better in the victory over the Cheetahs at Newlands last week.
De Allende and Mapoe should enjoy playing outside either Elton Jantjies or Pat Lambie at flyhalf, as both flyhalves are able to vary their play cleverly through a passing game, taking the ball to the advantage line or using a chip over the top.
Jantjies has been in outstanding form and should have the inside lane over Lambie, who only recently returned from a lengthy absence due to a shoulder problem.
Mapoe is known for his powerful ball-carries and big tackles, but where he has improved considerably this season is in his passing skills. He has often found his wing or fullback on the outside, and also offloads well in the tackle.
It could prove to be the ideal partnership with De Allende, who is a strong runner with ball-in-hand and keeps the defenders busy with his stepping skills.
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