Dream Debuts by SA Players

After Tiaan Swanepoel’s heroics at Ellis Park at the weekend, Quintin van Jaarsveld looks back at a few local players who enjoyed dream debuts at domestic and Test level.

Swanepoel’s the talk of the town after announcing himself on the Currie Cup stage in fairy-tale fashion on Saturday. The debutant kicked the door down with his bazooka-like boot, slotting five penalties including the match-winner to condemn Western Province to a 22-19 defeat at the death.

The 24-year-old fullback could not have made a better first impression as he stepped up and slotted a jaw-dropping 61m penalty to open the Lions’ account in the 18th minute. Commenting in the SuperSport studio after the clash, former World Cup-winning Springbok captain John Smit said he hadn’t seen such a monster kick since Frans Steyn’s famous punt that helped seal a Tri-Nations clinching 32-29 win for the men in Green and Gold over the All Blacks in Hamilton in 2009.

In addition to his ace goal-kicking, Swanepoel asked questions with ball in hand, both from the back and when he popped up at first receiver and was rock-solid on defence. Cool, calm and collected all evening, he confidently sealed Province’s fate when he sent the clutch last-gasp penalty sailing through the uprights to win it for the hosts and cap a dream Currie Cup debut.

Swanepoel’s stellar opening act inspired us to highlight some other memorable maiden outings by South African players for club and country (in chronological order):

Terblanche Tornado Blows Ireland Away

Back in 1998, Stefan Terblanche was on fire on a chilly night in Bloemfontein, where he left Ireland shell-shocked with a remarkable four-try romp. Buoyed by an easy run-in after just two minutes, the winger turned on the style in the second half with three sensational solo tries, each more breath-taking than the last as the Springboks, clad in white, marched to a 31-17 win.

The 23-year-old’s second-half hat-trick was a perfect showcase of his lethal finishing skills. Afforded time and space, Terblanche pinned his ears back and starched the cover defence to go over in the corner in the 50th minute. Five minutes later, he danced past three defenders and stretched over before collecting a tricky offload from scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen and fending, stepping and spinning his way free for his fourth.

King For a Day

Port Elizabeth was buzzing when the Southern Kings welcomed the Western Force to Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium for their first-ever Super Rugby fixture in 2013. It was a magical night for the hosts, who vanquished their vaunted visitors 22-10 with an impassioned performance.

The star of the show was teenage sensation Sergeal Petersen. Fresh out of high school, the 18-year-old speedster scored a try in each half to inspire a famous victory and claim the Man of the Match award. His first try was particularly memorable due its significance and style, with the alert winger pouncing on scrumhalf Shaun Venter’s charged-down kick and launching a flamboyant swan dive to score the franchise’s first points.

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The Epic Arrival of a Future Icon

Siya Kolisi had been in Heyneke Meyer’s initial Springbok squad in 2012 but didn’t get an opportunity during the Incoming Tour before suffering an injury ahead of the Rugby Championship. In retrospect, the disappointing delay was part of his destiny as the kid from Zwide realised his Springbok dream in the most fitting way possible the following year against Scotland at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

Starting on the bench, Kolisi was thrust into action in the fourth minute, replacing an injured Arno Botha, and enjoyed the epitome of a dream debut. Undaunted, the 21-year-old flank rose to the occasion and stole the show. He wreaked havoc with ball in hand, defended like a Trojan and won a textbook turnover in an all-action effort that earned him the Man of the Match award and the hosts (clad in white) a 30-17 victory. Little did anyone realise what a transcendent national icon he would become by captaining South Africa to a third World Cup title in 2019.

Welcome to the Simelane Show

A prodigious talent, all eyes were on wunderkind Wandisile Simelane when he made his Super Rugby debut for the Lions against the Jaguares in 2019. As a former schoolboy star and Junior Springbok Player of the Year in 2018, this encounter at Ellis Park offered a first glimpse of the blue-chipper’s aptitude to step up to the senior ranks.

He hit it out of the park, penetrating the defence like a machine gun with his speed, fancy footwork and excellent ball skills. The 20-year-old outside centre created a try with a brilliant basketball-like pass, scored one himself, racked up over 100 running metres and bagged the Man of the Match award in the Lions’ 47-39 triumph. A Springbok in waiting, this opening act will only grow in lore as his prospective legend does.

A Star is Born at Ellis Park

Herschel Jantjies’ meteoric rise in 2019 is unrivalled in recent history. Up there among the greatest rookie seasons ever, the nuggety No.9 went from obscurity to superstardom – starting the year on the Stormers bench and finishing it as a World Cup winner.

After taking Super Rugby by storm, the red-hot rookie’s acid test came against Australia in Johannesburg. Backed by Rassie Erasmus to start the Rugby Championship opener, Jantjies played with confidence and maturity well beyond his 23 years and made Ellis Park his house. He was the smallest man on the field yet stood head and shoulders above the rest, scoring a brace of tries, providing quick, crisp service, kicking well and making brave tackles.

The diminutive dynamo not only proved he’s the real deal but exceeded expectations, his magnificent Man of the Match performance propelling the Springboks to a 35-17 bonus-point win over the Wallabies, which set the tone for what proved to be a golden year.