Springboks centre Andre Esterhuizen embraces hybrid role among the forwards

Straits Times

6 hours ago

Rugby Union - South Africa v Barbarian FC - DHL Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa - June 28, 2025 South Africa's Jesse Kriel lifts the trophy with teammates to celebrate after winning the match REUTERS/Esa Alexander
Innovative South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus called centre-turned-flanker Andre Esterhuizen a 'hybrid player' on June 28 after a 54-7 victory over the Barbarians in wet and cold Cape Town. When replacement back Andre Esterhuizen came on early in the second half of the non-cap exhibition match for the world champions, it was as a loose forward. PHOTO: REUTERS
CAPE TOWN – The age of the hybrid rugby player may be nearer than many think as world champions South Africa continue to innovate, having intentionally used centre Andre Esterhuizen as a flanker in the 54-7 win over the Barbarians in Cape Town on June 28.
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has spoken at length in the past about developing players for multiple positions, and used Deon Fourie in both the front and back row of the scrum in their Rugby World Cup win in France in 2023.
However, playing a back in the forwards, not due to injury but as a plan that has been months in the making, could usher in a new era for South Africa as Erasmus seeks new ways to keep the four-time World Cup winners at the top of the global game.
He floated the idea to Esterhuizen at the start of 2025 and it is something they have been working on since.
'I was actually waiting for the conversation to happen, it has been brought up in the past,' Esterhuizen, 31, told reporters.
'As I get older, you learn how you can slot in everywhere, how you can get yourself into the team more constantly.
'You have to adapt as a player. I said I'd like to try it and I'm looking forward to what it can be. It will help me as a player and obviously, it can help the team as well. Hopefully, we see more of it in the future.'
Erasmus has long championed having players versatile enough to feature in several positions and believes it is an important factor in winning a World Cup.
Not least because, in the Springboks' case, it allows more forwards among replacements to replenish their powerhouse pack and apply pressure on opponents for the full 80 minutes.
Erasmus previously used loose forward Kwagga Smith as cover on the wing, and says Esterhuizen's emergence as a forward option is simply the reverse of that plan.
'I don't know if you can call him (Esterhuizen) a hybrid, but he is a backline player who can now also play in the forwards,' he said.
'If we get injuries, a guy like Andre just gives us an option, because he's been training with both the forwards and the backs.'
Former Springboks flanker Erasmus, who played key coaching roles in the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup triumphs of South Africa, is a master innovator.
He is best known for changing the traditional five forwards-three backs split on the substitutes' bench, choosing six-two and even seven-one combinations instead.
On the pitch, debutant flanker Vincent Tshituka scored two tries as the world champions were comfortable winners on June 28.
Hooker Malcolm Marx, winger Cheslin Kolbe, prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels, winger Kurt-Lee Arendse, lock Lood de Jager and centre Damian de Allende were the other try scorers for the Springboks.
Fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted two of the three first-half tries before his replacement, Manie Libbok, added the extra points to all five second-half scores.
Fullback Melvyn Jaminet claimed the lone try for the Barbarians and converted it in a non-cap exhibition match at Cape Town Stadium.
South Africa begin their international season with the first of two Tests against Italy in Pretoria on July 5. REUTERS
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