Onke Dubase, Makazole Mapimpi and Masixole Banda believe they have got what it takes to rise up to Super Rugby in 2017.
These are three Border Bulldogs players who are currently on trial at the Southern Kings, who are putting together their squad for next year’s Super Rugby season.
Dubase, speaking for the trio, said they were in the right state of mind to crack the Super Rugby squad.
For them, the biggest motivation was their disadvantaged backgrounds which forced them to work twice as hard than everyone else.
The three draw confidence from having closed the 2016 Currie Cup First Division season on a high after crashing in the semis in the colours of the Bulldogs – a feat last achieved by the East London-based side more than a decade ago.
Banda also cemented his form by being named the competition’s Player of the Year.
It was also this year during the Currie Cup qualifiers that Mapimpi was in fine form and a try-scoring machine of sort, while Dubase has been the impact player who always got Border ticking.
For now, said Dubase, they were taking it easy as they are only three days into the trial.
“We owe our being here to the rest of the Bulldogs teammates and the technical staff for what was a great season for us which unleashed our form that got the three of us here,” said Dubase.
“We will have to push really hard to crack it but being a black child and considering our backgrounds, we know we have to really work hard to realise our dream.”
Dubase, Mapimpi and Banda draw inspiration from another former Bulldog – scrumhalf Ntando Kebe, who cracked it for the Kings’ Super Rugby squad last season.
But questions have been raised as to why the Kings would prefer the Bulldogs trio to go via the trial route when other recruits from the likes of South Western District went straight into the squad.
Dubase said they do not want to get involved in these politics.
Instead they will grab the opportunity at hand and prove their worth to the selectors through the trials.
“I cannot comment into things I do not know but all I can say there could not have been a better time for us to be in these trials,” he said.
“We have been in fine form and believe and know that we have what it takes to crack it to the final squad.” — zingisam@dispatch.co.za
Border trio fired for Kings spots
These are three Border Bulldogs players who are currently on trial at the Southern Kings, who are putting together their squad for next year’s Super Rugby season.
Dubase, speaking for the trio, said they were in the right state of mind to crack the Super Rugby squad.
For them, the biggest motivation was their disadvantaged backgrounds which forced them to work twice as hard than everyone else.
The three draw confidence from having closed the 2016 Currie Cup First Division season on a high after crashing in the semis in the colours of the Bulldogs – a feat last achieved by the East London-based side more than a decade ago.
Banda also cemented his form by being named the competition’s Player of the Year.
It was also this year during the Currie Cup qualifiers that Mapimpi was in fine form and a try-scoring machine of sort, while Dubase has been the impact player who always got Border ticking.
For now, said Dubase, they were taking it easy as they are only three days into the trial.
“We owe our being here to the rest of the Bulldogs teammates and the technical staff for what was a great season for us which unleashed our form that got the three of us here,” said Dubase.
“We will have to push really hard to crack it but being a black child and considering our backgrounds, we know we have to really work hard to realise our dream.”
Dubase, Mapimpi and Banda draw inspiration from another former Bulldog – scrumhalf Ntando Kebe, who cracked it for the Kings’ Super Rugby squad last season.
But questions have been raised as to why the Kings would prefer the Bulldogs trio to go via the trial route when other recruits from the likes of South Western District went straight into the squad.
Dubase said they do not want to get involved in these politics.
Instead they will grab the opportunity at hand and prove their worth to the selectors through the trials.
“I cannot comment into things I do not know but all I can say there could not have been a better time for us to be in these trials,” he said.
“We have been in fine form and believe and know that we have what it takes to crack it to the final squad.” — zingisam@dispatch.co.za
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