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FILE | Springbok Aphelele Fassi scores a try against Wales
Springbok fullback Aphelele Fassi says he draws confidence from a creative environment in the national team and fond memories of playing at the Mbombela Stadium.
Fassi will earn his 12th cap for the Springboks when they take on Georgia in Mbombela on Saturday evening, in the final test match of the incoming series. He will be the last line of defence against a side he believes is better with ball in hand than many expect.
The Springboks are preparing for a Georgian outfit that is traditionally forward dominant and direct when the ball goes to the backline.
Fassi says that while it is generally correct to expect that from their opponents on Saturday, he can’t rule out the odd foray wide. And as fullback he will need to be vigilant to that, given Georgia’s skill set derived from the French top 14.
“Their backline is more direct and more physical in the wider channel and the breakdown and the tackle and every aspect of their game they will try and be physical, I also feel like they are a team likes to play around with the ball and a team that is expansive obviously with the type of players that they have that play in the top 14 they will definitely have a mix of both games,” says Fassi.
Springbok innovation has been the talk of the week in Mbombela and Fassi says a big part of that is having coaches both at franchise and national level, who allow players the freedom to express themselves. Fassi says it has helped his game immensely not to fear failure.
“The intent that you have and everything will show if you are determined to do it if you fail it does not mean that you didn’t want to do it your intent into doing it is the most important thing and from there I just took it up a notch and being able to have that determination is being able to fix my defence and proving that as the last man of the defence I can be able to make my tackles,” Fassi explains.
The last time the Boks played in Mbombela, they won the Rugby Championship for the first time in five years, with Fassi and Pieter-Steph du Toit each scoring a brace in a seven-try romp against Argentina.
“Playing for the Springboks at any field is quite great but a lot of people here in Mbombela hold a special part to me. I think the crowd here is crazy and the passion that they have for rugby is unbelievable, so I think Mbombela definitely holds a special place in my heart,” Fassi elaborates.
The Springboks are looking for a third win over Georgia in what will be the third meeting between the two nations.
Video: Boks anticipate a more evolved Georgian outfit
