OPINION: Springbok fans, get ready for the Asenathi Ntlabakanye Show against the Barbarians

Comment by Ashfak Mohamed

Asenathi Ntlabakanye is a larger-than-life character.

That is certainly no slight on the Lions tighthead prop, who was included in the Springbok starting line-up on Tuesday for Saturday’s season-opener against the Barbarians at Cape Town Stadium (5.10pm kick-off).

Ahead of the team announcement by coach Rassie Erasmus, one of the Bok management members told the media that Ntlabakanye did not weigh 168kg – as someone may have reported – but in fact 141kg.

That was not only a factual correction, but also testament to the Lions No 3’s hard work that he has put in on his fitness and conditioning this year.

The 26-year-old from Plettenberg Bay has certainly always had the size to become a big success on the rugby field, but there were some doubts about whether he could keep up at the highest level.

But if you watched him closely over a number of years for the Lions, you would know that there shouldn’t have been any question about his ability and work-rate.

Ntlabakanye has shown several times that he can put in the hard yards on the pitch, whether that is having to shove his opponent back in the scrums, carry the ball with real intensity at close quarters or getting up off the ground to make yet another tackle.

Erasmus shared a wonderful tale of how Ntlabakanye has spent some time at Bok scrum coach Daan Human’s farm to get special insight into the ‘dark arts’ of the front row, as well as working on his conditioning.

Erasmus said that Ntlabakanye has shed a remarkable 15-18kg as a result, and now he is primed to make a significant difference to the Bok pack.

He is sure to receive a serious examination from the Barbarians forwards in the scrums, where Irish veteran loosehead Cian Healy will be waiting with bated breath to get stuck into the SA newcomer.

But rather, Healy should beware: Ntlabakanye is a machine. I have always enjoyed his style. He seems to play with a freedom that few players – especially props – do.

He is busy on the field, popping up in unusual places and getting around the field without shirking his primary duties in the set-pieces.

Erasmus mentioned on Tuesday that he was impressed by Ntlabakanye’s feel for the game, something that he said Ox Nche also possesses.

That separates a special front-ranker from an ordinary, hard-working one, and could catapult Ntlabakanye into the picture for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Wallaby tighthead Taniela Tupou and Tongan veteran Ben Tameifuna are of a similar ilk, and have become household names in Test rugby.

Ntlabakanye’s ceiling is even higher, especially as he is part of a world-champion set-up at the Boks.

Barbarians games are usually played in a festive nature, with a party atmosphere sure to be in the air at a packed Cape Town Stadium.

But Boks fans should get ready for the Asenathi Ntlabakanye Show this weekend.

With regards to the rest of the team named by Erasmus on Tuesday, it was wonderful to see Vincent Tshituka finally get his Bok break, while Jean-Luc du Preez also got an ideal opportunity to prove his worth as a No 8.

It is great that Lood de Jager returns to the Bok stage following a series of injuries and illness.

Springbok Team

15 Aphelele Fassi 14 Cheslin Kolbe 13 Jesse Kriel 12 Damian de Allende 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 9 Morné van den Berg 8 Jean-Luc du Preez 7 Vincent Tshituka 6 Siya Kolisi (captain) 5 Lood de Jager 4 Jean Kleyn 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye 2 Malcolm Marx 1 Ox Nche.

Bench: 16 Marnus van der Merwe 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels 18 Neethling Fouché 19 Franco Mostert 20 Kwagga Smith 21 Cobus Reinach 22 Manie Libbok 23 André Esterhuizen.