Manie Libbok says the battle for the Springbok No 10 jersey motivates all three contenders.
The 28-year-old is vying for the starting playmaking role against France on Saturday with the experienced Handre Pollard and exciting youngster Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Pollard, 31, kicked the Boks to the 2019 and 2023 World Cup titles while 23-year-old Feinberg-Mngomezelu is seen as the leading young 10.
“For us, it’s a healthy competition, first and foremost,” Libbok told reporters. “It helps all three of us. It helps us to push each other in training every day to be better and get better. I think it’s good.”
Feinberg-Mngomezelu has broken through for the Springboks since the first of his 16 Test appearances in June 2024.
Last weekend, he scored two tries in a mercurial performance as the Boks hammered Japan 61-7 in London to being their November campaign.
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Pollard won the first of his 84 caps in 2014 and is a more conservative option than Libbok and Feinberg-Mngomezelu.
“There are things that you look at and learn from the other guys. How they go about their business, how they go about their work and what they do on a daily basis,” Libbok added. “Just trying to add it to your game and try to put it into your preparation and all of that.
“It’s good to have different guys doing different things. Do what they do on board and add it to your game and your preparation,” he added.
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Earlier this year Libbok was linked to Paris-based Racing 92 before joining Hanazono Kintetsu Liners in Japan for the coming season on a three-year deal. He left the door open to a possible move to the French Top 14.
“Coming to play in France, obviously if the opportunity is there one day, I will definitely consider it,” Libbok said. “But for now, obviously, I made a decision to go to Japan and go over there and expand my game there.
“Play in a different league, play in a different style of play and just grow my game as much as I can.”
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– AFP
Photo: Franco Arland/Gallo Images
