Aphelele Fassi is revered for his step length and the speed it generates, but it is the strides he’s taken off the field that have led him to the Bok No 15 jersey.
Fassi made his Test debut on the wing against Georgia in 2021 but played just twice more for South Africa in the next 1,000 days, missing the 2023 Rugby World Cup during a period he was sent back to the Sharks to work on his game.
A more refined player and matured person returned to the national set-up last year and the reward was eight Test starts at fullback. Fassi was particularly strong in the Ellis Park Test against the All Blacks, convincing coach Rassie Erasmus that he could be trusted with the No 15 jersey in the injury absence of Damian Willemse. And the 27-year-old would like to keep hold of that jersey.
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But Fassi knows he can’t rest on his laurels and continuously needs to develop his game to stay ahead of the likes of Willemse and 98-Test Bok fullback Willie le Roux.
“I’ve looked to improve on my work rate and my communication, and also having the will to learn,” said the 11-Test dynamo. “My kicking game has also come about, so yes, just learning…”
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When it comes to the Barbarians and how best to approach Saturday’s non-cap clash at the Cape Town Stadium, Fassi reiterated the Bok mantra that they’ll be treating the invitational team very seriously.
“100 percent it’ll be a Test match approach. The freedom the coaches give us to express ourselves is immense, and I’ll focus on what I have to deliver within the structures of the team.”
Fassi forms an exciting and formidable back three alongside Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse.
SPRINGBOKS – 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jean-Luc du Preez, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 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 Fouche, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Andre Esterhuizen.
Photo: Charle Lombard/Gallo Images
