From Varsity Cup to the Springbok squad — Rassie Erasmus says Makhaza will have his day in the green and gold

The rise of varsity student Ntokozo Makhaza from nowhere to the Springbok squad is a heartening story that gives the youth in South Africa hope that their dreams can come true.

The 23-year-old from Harrismith in the Free State is studying for a degree in psychology and social development at the University of Cape Town where he has also been an amateur rugby player for Ikeys in the Varsity Cup.

A month ago, Rassie Erasmus called Makhaza to invite him to the Springbok alignment camp, but he thought it was a prank call at first.

Ikey’s had won the Varsity Cup and Makhaza was the Player of the Tournament, as he was last year, too. Erasmus has been watching and was so impressed with the wing’s performances — yes, Big Brother Rassie watches everything — that he wanted to find out more.

“Macky,” as he is known to his teammates, duly attended the camp, and Erasmus has reflected on the newcomer’s participation.

“It's been a pleasure to work with him,” Erasmus said.

“He's consistently been the top Varsity Cup player, and especially in terms of point scoring, probably one of the best in the competition’s history.

“You sometimes wonder, is this one of those players who slipped through the cracks? It’s been good to see what he brings.”

Erasmus wanted to meet the young winger and learn more about him. It was never a case of Macky going straight into the Springbok team but the coach feels he will get his chance.

“We definitely think he’s someone who could play for the Springboks one day. It might be a bit early now. He’s slotted in really well, but we’re also being realistic. He’s certainly not far off the pace,” Erasmus said.

“I think he's going to make it one day. And if we hadn't given him this chance, we’d never know.”

Erasmus is impressed with Makhaza’s goal-kicking for Ikeys.

The wing’s coach at Ikeys, former Springbok Robbie Fleck, told Independent Media that Macky is a phenomenon.

“He kicks at 85 percent in howling south easters in the Cape and hits 95 percent on the Highveld,” Fleck said.

“I told Rassie that Macky has a few shortcomings but Rassie said that is what his coaching staff is for,” Fleck continued.

“Rassie likes guys with a work ethic that he knows can improve, especially with a guy like Tony Brown coaching the backs. Rassie can take an 80-percenter and turn him into a 100-percenter. He likes players that are prepared to go the extra mile.”

Erasmus prefers hard-working wingers who chase, work back, and create opportunities.

Fleck adds that Makhaza was almost lost to mainstream rugby.

“Credit to him, he was Player of the Tournament but had no provincial offers. He was thinking about Sevens but we said, ‘Give it one more year. He had another cracker year and look at him now.”

Makhaza’s next step is to play in the Currie Cup. His exploits in the Varsity Cup earned him a contract with the Cheetahs and a homecoming to the Free State.