In the Springbok engine room where green and gold gears grind under the weight of expectation, Manie Libbok stands poised to restart the fire in his boots.
The mercurial flyhalf, equal parts composer and conductor, is set to steer the South African backline like a seasoned navigator charting familiar waters, this time in the wind-swept rugby cathedral of Gqeberha.
Saturday’s Test against Italy isn’t just another marker on the Boks’ calendar—it’s a proving ground for Libbok to remind the rugby world—and perhaps more crucially, Bok coach Rassie Erasmus—that his flair still belongs in the Test match furnace.
“Willie is a great team man and player, and he certainly deserves this honour” 🤝#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold
— Springboks (@Springboks) July 9, 2025
“It will be the third game Grant and I play together, so I’m really looking forward to it,” said Libbok, speaking of his partnership with the electric scrumhalf Grant Williams.
“Much like I’m excited to have Andre [Esterhuizen] and Canan [Moodie] with us in the midfield, and Willie [le Roux] at the back.”
Like a flyhalf balancing on a knife-edge between risk and reward, Libbok must now pivot from fringe player to firestarter.
Having last tasted Test action in the informal clash with the Barbarians, the match in Port Elizabeth is no warm-up—it’s a full-throttle sprint for jersey relevance, with two other pedigreed stallions, Handré Pollard and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, also pacing the No 10 paddock.
But Libbok isn’t just banking on form. He’s playing the long game—building chemistry with his backline lieutenants, threading cohesion through combinations like stitches in a well-worn rugby ball.
The backline, as he describes it, is a patchwork of explosive talent and seasoned muscle.
“Canan and Andre started against England at Twickenham together, and it will be great to have their experience, along with [Makazole] Mapimpi and Willie’s, in the backline.”
If rugby is a war of attrition disguised as a ballet of bruises, then this Bok backline is built like a jazz ensemble with sledgehammer solos. Esterhuizen carries like a bulldozer with ballet shoes. Moodie is lightning caught in a bottle. Mapimpi, the silent assassin, needs no introduction. And at fullback, Le Roux—long the Springbok’s quarterback in disguise—will earn his 100th Test cap, the rugby equivalent of reaching rugby sainthood.
“Willie is an incredible person, and he’s been helpful since the first time we played and trained together,” Libbok said, his words thick with reverence.
“I’m very excited to be with him on the field on this special occasion. Having played a handful of Tests, I know what a massive achievement this is, and we are all very proud of him.”
Wednesday is training day for the #Springboks, and today we welcomed two of our #BokWomen sisters to the session! 🇿🇦#ForeverGreenForeverGold pic.twitter.com/1bao4NNQhv
— Springboks (@Springboks) July 9, 2025
It’s this blend of youth and wisdom—fresh legs and wise heads—that Libbok believes can elevate the Boks to a sharper gear.
After a 42-24 win over Italy in Pretoria that left more questions than answers, the playmaker insists the Springboks are braced for a sterner challenge.
“The mindset in the team is good and we are really looking forward to the game. We’ve been very focused this week and locked in on the task at hand. Italy are definitely going to come hard at us, but I believe both sides will be up for what is going to be a great contest.”
Focused. Locked in. Not just words, but signals. Signals that the Springboks are no longer feeling their way through the fog of early-season rust. They’re building—testing combinations, laying down tracks for what will be a symphony of steel come crunch time.
Libbok, that daring pivot who often threads the needle between brilliance and risk, now finds himself in a high-stakes audition. The conductor’s baton is in his hand. The orchestra is tuning up. Italy awaits at the other end of the tunnel.
And in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium—where the sea breeze whispers tales of old Bok warriors—Manie Libbok has a chance to write his own.
