Johannes Janse van Rensburg may be the youngest Border Bulldogs player at 21 years of age, but much is expected from the young lad come tomorrow night.
This as Border coach Elliot Fana has come out saying he expected the youngster to play an influential role when they meet Griffons in the Currie Cup First Division at the Buffalo City Stadium tomorrow night.
Van Rensburg, in just his first season in professional rugby has come of age.
As a member of the Bulldogs loose trio at number eight, the spotlight will be on Van Rensburg and his two partners – Onke Dubase and Siya Mdaka – to plot the downfall of the Griffons.
Fana was all gung-ho about Van Rensburg, who he believes is one for the future for the East London side.
“I am expecting fireworks from him and if his attitude at training is anything to go by, he is ready for the battle,” said Fana.
“Van Rensburg, with this being his first season at professional level, was expected to play more an understudy role, but when Athenkosi Manentsa and Nkosikhona Nofuma got injured in the first game, we gave him the opportunity and he grabbed it with both hands.”
With Van Rensburg punching way above his weight, Fana has big expectations on what should be his role tomorrow.
“Because Griffons are a direct side, without the ball I will expect Janse to stop the opposition momentum and deny the ball carriers from reaching the gain line,” said Fana.
“With the ball in hand I want him to put people into space,” Fana added.
“And because we want to run at the Griffons, I expect our loose trio, of which Van Rensburg is a vital member, to be much more influential.”
But Van Rensburg can also play lock, and he will be expected to destroy the opposition lineout.
This is one area where Border have been far from convincing for years.
But then again, Van Rensburg alone cannot take responsibility for the Bulldogs’ shenanigans at lineouts.
In all fairness, Border, despite failing to win lineouts, have avoided being mauled.
Defensively, there are very few problems. But in attack, the dip in form by wing Makazole Mapimpi leaves much to be desired.
Mapimpi will be starting at number 11, but the truth is that throughout the First Division campaign, he has been missing in action – a disappointment for Border’s leading try-scorer not so long ago in this year’s Currie Cup qualifiers.
He is lucky the Border technical team have stuck with him despite the glaring under-performance for a man of his standards. Mapimpi was supposed to be warming the bench. The fans will be hoping to see the Mapimpi they know tomorrow night. — zingisam@dispatch.co.za