'Coach soek ’n tighthead' — Ntlabakanye’s hard work on Daan Human’s farm pays off

Asenathi Ntlabakanye has one of the best names in rugby. He’s also potentially one of the best tighthead props in the game, especially now that he has shed about 18kg, according to Bok head coach Rassie Erasmus.

The big Lions front-ranker has come down from close to 160kg to a positively svelte 141kg as he readies himself for his Springboks debut against the Barbarians.

Ntlabakanye was named in the Bok starting lineup for Saturday’s clash against the Baabaas at DHL Stadium in Cape Town, finally making his senior debut for the national team after being a Junior Springbok star.

It’s a reward for the obvious hard work the prop has put in to make himself even more effective, and it’s also an indication of how highly the Boks rate him.

Ntlabakanye’s weight loss won’t affect his ability as a prop because he is still a massive and strong man, but it will improve his mobility and endurance. He should become an even better player as a result.

Erasmus knows that the Lions prop has the potential to become a Springbok great, and he and his staff were willing to go the extra mile to help the player become the best version of himself.

Ntlabakanye was invited to scrum coach Daan Human’s Free State farm near Bloemfontein for some extra work when the Lions were eliminated from the United Rugby Championship before the play-offs.

Ntlabakanye had more than three weeks to kill before the Boks gathered, and instead of waiting around in Joburg, he accepted the invitation to Human’s farm to work on his fitness and skills.

Erasmus did not elaborate deeply on what exactly the sessions on Human’s farm entailed, or whether Ntlabakanye ate a high-protein, low-carb diet, but whatever happened, the results have been positive. “He [Ntlabakanye] went a few times up to Daan’s farm and stayed there for a week at a time,” explained Erasmus.

“Daan worked with him, with the Lions coach and CEO’s blessing, and whenever there was a break he drove to the farm.

“He’s dropped 15 to 18 kilograms, and let’s hope he can do what he does at Test match level, which will be great,” said Erasmus.

“I don’t want to mention names, but we’ve done it with three or four other players in the past, also in the front row specifically, because that’s something we struggle to get right in an alignment camp, because Daan loves to work the core.”

Commitment

This commitment to the player, and the player’s commitment to the hard work and nurturing in return, once again gives insight into the healthy state of the Bok environment.

Players are willing to do everything it takes to become a regular member of the Bok set-up and the coaches are willing to give everything they have to equip the players.

In the case of Ntlabakanye, in particular, it’s also the commitment to a longer-term vision for him and an indication that injured tighthead Frans Malherbe might be out for much longer than expected.

It could even be a tacit indication that Malherbe might not return at all, or not return as the same player due to a back injury. The Boks are clearly backing Ntlabakanye as a medium- to long-term replacement

“When we started looking at Asenathi two years ago, we tracked his actual ‘battle’ stats, and they are up there with almost anyone,” said Erasmus.

“We then got him in with the help of Rudolf [Straeuli] and the Lions, and we said we’ve got to get this right.”

Ntlabakanye’s dimensions have led to some criticism but the Bok coach came to his defence, citing other examples of players considered to be the wrong size for the game.

“If you look at players in the past, like Cheslin [Kolbe], people used to say he’s too light and then you go and say, ‘What area of the game does Cheslin not man up, or Kurt-Lee [Arendse]?’ They make their tackles and tackle guys back,” said Erasmus.

“And it can be the other way around for one of the heavy guys; you look at a guy like Frans [Malherbe] — nobody would say he’s a front-page model or something like that, but hell, Franna can play! He’s solid in the scrum, gets up and makes his tackles … maybe he’s not the most athletic guy.

“In Asenathi we’ve got someone who we see has got an unbelievable touch and feel for the game.

“Obviously he’s a phenomenal player, has got the talent … understands that there’s a helluva lot to work on to be a part of the Boks at this stage and [take over] from the world’s No 1 [tighthead].

“And when Daan said ‘come to Bloemfontein’ to work, he did. Getting on a bicycle, carrying stuff there, gym sessions and scrum sessions… It went on for three-and-a-half weeks.

“His two weeks [in Bok camp] were great, but those previous three weeks will benefit him even more.” DM