Makazole Mapimpi set for milestone Springbok start
Springbok mega star, Makazole Mapimpi could be racking up the milestones when he faces Romania for the Springboks on Sunday.
Popular Springbok winger Makazole Mapimpi is set to make a milestone start against Romania in the Rugby World Cup on Sunday.
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Mapimpi will run on a wing in a Test for the Springboks for the 39th time moving him level with Pieter Rossouw on the all-time list.
MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI ACHIEVES SPRINGBOK MILESTONE
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Mapimpi becomes the player with the joint-fifth most starts on the wing for the Springboks.
He has already scored 23 tries for the Springboks, putting him eighth on the all-time list for South Africa. Mapimpi has the best strike-rate of any other player to feature in the top ten.
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It is not beyond the realm of possibility that Mapimpi could leave Bordeaux as the man who is fourth on that list with his 23 tries putting him in range of overtaking JP Pietersen (24), Percy Montgomery (25), Breyton Paulse (26) and Jean De Villiers (27) in one fell swoop.
A SCRUMHALF ON THE WING
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Meanwhile on the other wing, Grant Williams makes his first start on the wing for the Springboks.
Williams has terrific pace, and the scrumhalf has been backed to use his speed out wide.
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“People were surprised when we picked four scrumhalves in the squad but we knew they offered us the skills and versatility to provide backline options to manage the challenges that tournament rugby gives you,” said Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber.
“They are all excellent scrumhalves, but Grant and Cobus can play wing and Faf has experience at No 10 – as do Cheslin and Willie. We have the same versatility among our forwards.
“Grant played school rugby on the wing, and he has come on at wing before for us, so we are excited to give him this opportunity to start there and for him to gain international experience in the position.
“Faf is also one of our back up flyhalves in the squad, and the same applies to him, as it will be valuable for him and the team to get some game time in the position.
“We have been rotating and testing players in different positions since last season to put us in the fortunate position to have a group of 33 players in France that are closely matched in terms of their quality of play and skills, and who have been pushing one another for places in the last few months. It has allowed us to select a top-quality team for this match.”
What is your favourite Makazole Mapimpi moment?
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