The Lions seriously need to promote Baby Bok star Wandi Simelane
Promoting youth is working for the men from Ellis Park and Rohan Janse van Rensburg's injury means he could stake a claim in his favoured position at centre.
Wandi Simelane. Photo: Stéphanie Biscaye / World Rugby.
The Lions’ 2018 Super Rugby season has been characterised by the rise of two young black wingers in Aphiwe Dyantyi and Madosh Tambwe.
When Swys de Bruin’s troops resume their campaign next week, another raw diamond needs to become involved, arguably as soon as possible.
Junior Springbok star Wandi Simelane was outstanding in the recently concluded World U-20 Championship, where he ended as the joint top try-scorer with six.
Ever since his rise at schools level, the 20-year-old has been praised for his attacking ability, a talent keen to exploit space.
The impressive aspect of Simelane’s form in France – where the Baby Boks finished third – was the fact that he was shifted to wing.
It immediately negated his strength as a playmaker in midfield, especially in a game-plan that was at times pretty conservative.
But Simelane stuck it out and still managed to have a pronounced influence.
He also had to show his leadership abilities as stand-in vice-captain after the injury to Stormers pivot Damian Willemse.
“From a rugby perspective, this was a mentally and physically demanding competition. There are only four days in between games, so it asks a lot of the players. But it was a great experience for me,” said Simelane.
It’s that type of fortitude that really should make the Lions seriously consider him for the senior side.
Notably, the season-ending injury to Rohan Janse van Rensburg means the men from Ellis Park have one less midfielder for the business end of Super Rugby.
That opens the door for Simelane to even stake a claim in his favoured position.
And, as Dyantyi and Tambwe show, giving youth a chance isn’t a bad thing.
