In the words of Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, it’s time for Aphelele Fassi to shine.
There’s a saying that you have two Test debuts as a Springbok player. One is when you play your first international game, and the other is when you face the All Blacks for the first time.
For Fassi, his ‘second’ debut against the New Zealanders tomorrow at Ellis Park (5pm start) will arguably be the biggest test of his international career thus far, and it’s time for the talented fullback to shine.
He’s shown in the couple of Tests he’s had that he could be a shoo-in at the back as veteran Willie le Roux nears the end of his illustrious Bok career.
Fassi is solid under the high ball and has ironed out some kinks in his game under the tutelage of Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick, while the attacking ability of the Sharks star complements the world champions’ evolving game plan.
But facing Portugal and Australia is very different to tackling the All Blacks, and tomorrow will be the real baptism of fire for the 26-year-old.
His positional play on defence will be important, especially with accurate kickers all over the New Zealand backline.
Halfback pairing TJ Perenara and Damian McKenzie will make him run across the backfield and bomb him with high balls, while fullback Beauden Barrett and his inside centre brother Jordie will constantly look for territory with 50-22 line kicks.
And then on the attack, linking well with rookie flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and wings Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse will be critical in getting the Boks running.
“Now is his time to shine. It’s not easy to shine against New Zealand.”
“Now is his time to shine. It’s not easy to shine against New Zealand, but that is where you know if I’m ready yet or not. Hopefully he flies,” Erasmus said this week of Fassi.
“We are all waiting for Aphelele to do it now. That’s been the message this whole week: ‘Go and show the people what you can do and why you are here. They haven’t seen what you can do’.
“But, unfortunately, there is first hard grafting involved in a game before you get to do the beautiful things. So, him getting his technique right under the high ball, not lifting that leg (dangerously) ... He’s got that out of his system.
“Him understanding the wings and organising them, working with Willie ... He is getting the ropes on that. And then (there are) small little defence things from scrums and controlling the blind wing from the line-outs.”
It certainly seems that a change of the guard is taking place in the No 15 jersey, and Fassi can add his name to the 2027 Rugby World Cup conversation with a strong performance tomorrow.
The injured Damian Willemse must still return to the Bok fold, and with the 35-year-old Le Roux reaching the end stages of his illustrious career, Fassi can become the back-up fullback.
Le Roux is currently on 96 Bok caps, and Erasmus wants to see him reach the milestone of a century of Tests, but the Springbok coach said the veteran understands his role in the side that comes with transferring knowledge and getting other players ready for a Test match.