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Lions prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye has put in the work to force himself into the Springbok mix, with him set to start against the Barbarians this weekend.
Lions prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye will get his first taste of Springbok rugby when he starts against the Barbarians in Cape Town this weekend. Picture: Daniel Hlongwane/Gallo Images
Monstrous Lions prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye is primed and ready to make a big Springbok splash when he dons the green and gold for the first time in their non-Test season opener against the Barbarians in Cape Town this weekend.
At Tuesday’s team announcement coach Rassie Erasmus revealed that Ntlabakanye had taken part in “special” training sessions with Bok scrum guru Daan Human in the build up to the Test season and had gone through dramatic physical changes to get him ready for the rigors of international rugby.
Ntlabakanye reportedly weighed in at over 150kgs while playing for the Lions, and has slimmed down a touch through his various trips to Bloemfontein, where he was put through the ringer to get him up to the standards the Boks expect from him.
“He went a few times up to Daan’s farm and stayed there for a week, and Daan worked with him really well, with the Lions coach and CEO’s blessing, and whenever there was a break he drove to the farm,” explained Erasmus.
“He’s dropped 15 to 18kgs and let’s hope he can do what he does (for his franchise) at Test match level, which will be great.
“I don’t want to mention names but we’ve done it with three or four other players, also in the front row specifically, because that’s something we struggle to get right in an alignment camp, because Daan loves to work the core.”
Prop crisis
The Boks are going through a bit of a prop crisis at the moment with multiple front rankers currently out injured, including veteran double World Cup winner Frans Malherbe, who’s career could be on the line due to his recent injury struggles.
That has opened the door for Ntlabakanye’s inclusion in the squad, while Wilco Louw’s involvement for the Bulls in the URC final meant he wasn’t considered for this weekend, allowing the Lions forward to start, while uncapped Stormers prop Neethling Fouche will back him up off the bench.
“Franna (Malherbe) is unfortunately out for a pretty long time, until we get clarity there, and all of a sudden your first choice No 3 (is unavailable),” said Erasmus.
“We always expected that we would lose guys eventually and we have always had Asenathi on the radar, we just could never get him into the squad and work with him on the things that we wanted to work with him on.”
Erasmus added: “Obviously he’s a good player, and has got the talent. But at the moment he understands that there’s a helluva lot to work on to be a part of the Boks at this stage and (take over) from the world’s best (tighthead).
“But when a guy like (Lions CEO) Rudolf (Straeuli) comes to you and says you can work with him. And Daan says ‘come to Bloemfontein’ and he goes there.
“From getting on a bicycle, to carrying stuff, doing gym and scrum sessions. It’s been going on for three-and-a-half weeks, and even prior to that he’s visited. These two weeks (in camp) were great, but those previous three weeks will benefit him even more.”
