Springboks

Springboks pair Siya Kolisi and Cheslin Kolbe. Photo: SA Rugby website.

Kolbe backs Arendse and Moodie

Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie have received the backing of Cheslin Kolbe in a crucial year for Springbok rugby.

Springboks

Springboks pair Siya Kolisi and Cheslin Kolbe. Photo: SA Rugby website.

Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie have received the backing of Cheslin Kolbe in a crucial year for Springbok rugby.

The three will all be aiming to make the Springbok squad as they look to defend their World Cup title in France later in the year.

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Kolbe sings the praises of Bulls duo

Both at the Bulls, Arendse and Moodie are certainly on Kolbe’s radar even if he watches from club duty in France.

The similarities are rife between Arendse and Kolbe – both are short in stature and have explosive pace. Both also made their names in the sevens format before proving that size doesn’t matter when it comes to being an international wing.

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“It’s been a delight to see Kurt-Lee exploding onto the scene and showing, again, that rugby is not just about how big you are. If you are good enough, then you deserve to be there, regardless of your size,” Kolbe told News24.

Looking ahead to a big year for the Springboks, Kolbe said: “He is a wonderful player and while it’s been amazing to see what he has done, I’m even more excited to see what he will do next.”

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Likewise, Kolbe has been impressed with form of Moodie.

Wings have stuck up their hands

“That’s the beautiful thing about South African rugby; we are blessed with talent, and it’s all about taking your opportunities when they come. Those two guys have stuck up their hands.”

Kolbe is currently on the books of Toulon.

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Springboks in France

Agen — Elton Jantjies
Bayonne — Uzair Cassiem
Brive — Marcel van der Merwe
La Rochelle — Dillyn Leyds and Raymond Rhule
Lyon — Arno Botha
Montpellier — Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Cobus Reinach and Jan Serfontein
Stade Français — Vincent Koch
Racing 92 — Trevor Nyakane and Warrick Gelant
Toulon — Cheslin Kolbe
Toulouse — Rynhardt Elstadt

Springboks back Makozole Mapimpi, Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse Bulls Champions Cup.
Springbok backs Makozole Mapimpi, Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse. Image: Supersport/Twitter

SPRINGBOKS’ TEST FIXTURES IN 2023

Rugby Championship:

✈ 8 July: Springboks vs Australia (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)

✈ 15 July: South African vs New Zealand (Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland)

✈ 29 July: Springboks vs Argentina (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

World Cup warm-ups:

✈ 5 August: South African vs Argentina (Vélez Stadium, Buenos Aires)

✈ 19 August: South African vs Wales (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)

✈ 25 August: Springboks vs New Zealand (Twickenham Stadium, London)

Rugby World Cup:

✈ 10 September: South Africa vs Scotland (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille) 

✈ 17 September: Springboks vs Romania (Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux) 

✈ 23 September: South African vs Ireland (Stade de France, Saint-Denis, Paris) 

✈ 1 October: Springboks vs Tonga (Stade Vélodrome, Marseille)

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