Champions Cup: Five South Africans who shone during the tournament including Makazole Mapimpi, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Deon Fourie
Now that the South African teams have bowed out of the 2022/23 Champions Cup, Planet Rugby takes a look at their players who caught the eye during the recent campaign.
Makazole Mapimpi
Despite being 32 years old, the Springbok flyer is still at the peak of his powers and he caught the eye with several outstanding attacking performances for the Durban-based outfit during this year’s Champions Cup.
Throughout the Sharks’ stint in the competition Mapimpi showed that he is a real force with ball in hand. Therefore, it’s not a surprise that he is one of the nominees for the 2023 EPCR Player of the Year award and features amongst the frontrunners in several of the attacking statistics.
After playing for 320 minutes, Mapimpi is in joint third position – along with 14 other players – in the try-scoring charts with three tries. He is also in joint second place – alongside Bautista Delguy of Clermont Auvergne – for clean breaks (seven) and is also second best for defenders beaten (19) and is in third spot for metres gained (361).
🕺 Brilliant footwork from Makazole Mapimpi!
Jaden Hendrikse scores but injures himself in the process. 🤕#HeinekenChampionsCup #SHAvMUNpic.twitter.com/G1ODJN6UJv
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) April 1, 2023
Kurt-Lee Arendse
Similarly to Mapimpi at the Sharks, Arendse is a vital cog in the Bulls machine with his attacking skills getting the better of most his opponents during the season.
Although the Pretoria-based side had little to write home about in this season’s competition, as they only won two out of five matches before exiting the tournament at the round-of-16 stage, the 26-year-old was a shining light for them in all of the matches which he participated in.
Arendse’s quick feet and ability to beat opponents made him a nightmare for defences and he was a marked man throughout the competition. Because he drew attention from defenders, it created opportunities for his team-mates but Arendse still lit up the tournament and is currently lying in joint fifth place – alongside 19 other players – for clean breaks made and occupies fifth spot for metres gained during the tournament.
Deon Fourie
It was a real shame that the Stormers’ talismanic tearaway could not be involved in their quarter-final defeat against Exeter Chiefs on Saturday as an eye socket injury kept him on the sidelines.
The 36-year-old was arguably the Cape Town-based outfit’s best player during the competition and his vast array of skills were missed by the Capetonians during their final hit out at Sandy Park.
As an openside flanker, Fourie is renowned for his brilliant breakdown skills and he was a menace in that department but he also made his mark in other facets of play with his ball carrying and defence also of a high standard. He also knows his way to the try-line and is currently lying in joint second position – with six other players – for tries scored with four five-pointers to his name.
⛈️ Deon Fourie still producing at 36. #HeinekenChampionsCup #STOvHAR pic.twitter.com/qMajOFP7Ls
— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) April 1, 2023
Eben Etzebeth
Just like Fourie at the Stormers, Etzebeth’s absence was keenly felt by the Sharks during their quarter-final defeat against Toulouse after he sustained shoulder injury in his side’s round-of-16 triumph over Toulouse.
While Etzebeth might not be amongst the the tournament’s leaders for his attacking play, he came to the fore with several excellent performances at the coalface of the Sharks’ forward effort and did so on a consistent basis.
Since joining the Sharks from Top 14 outfit Toulon during the latter part of 2022, Etzebeth has quickly cemented himself as one of the stalwarts of his new side’s pack and he gave nothing less than 100 per cent at all times.
The 31-year-old’s presence at the Sharks has provided plenty of grunt to their pack during the competition, with his outstanding physicality, brilliant lineout work and superb athleticism improving the overall quality of their forward play.
Manie Libbok
Like most of the Stormers players, the Springbok fly-half had an off day in his side’s defeat to Exeter Chiefs on Saturday but that doesn’t make him a bad player as he delivered several excellent performances in the men from Cape town’s push to the last eight.
The 25-year-old was the player who steered the Stormers to success in the United Rugby Championship last year and there were glimpses of his brilliance during the Champions Cup.
Libbok showed his class with some strong performances during the pool phase of the competition with his excellent game management particularly impressive. His playmaking skills were outstanding as he has the ability to put players on his outside into gaps while he also kept the scoreboard ticking with solid goal-kicking.
