Blitzbok Cheslin Kolbe still hoping he can grow into a Bok

16 August 2016 - 14:11 By Craig Ray

With no specialist fullbacks in the Springbok squad for the Rugby Championship‚ the Stormers’ Cheslin Kolbe hasn't given up hope that a call from coach Allister Coetzee might still come.Coetzee dropped 37-Test veteran Willie le Roux from his squad and indicated that Johan Goosen‚ Jesse Kriel and Ruan Combrinck would contend for the No 15 jersey in the short-term. The coach hinted strongly that Goosen was his preferred choice.Goosen had a stellar 2015-16 playing at centre for Parisian club Racing Metro. Racing won the French Top 14 and the European Cup with All Black legend Dan Carter conducting proceedings from flyhalf. But Goosen played a huge role with the No 13 on his back.Rio Olympian Francois Hougaard doubtful for Argentina showdownFrancois Hougaard's return to test match combat may be on ice ahead of Saturday's Rugby Championships opener against Argentina at the Mbombela Stadium. His last outing for the Boks was against Italy in 2014 and Goosen played fullback that day. But he has hardly featured in the last line again.Coetzee’s decision to leave out any recognised fullbacks is a risky strategy and Kolbe is quietly confident that his chance will come‚ if he continues to play his part by putting in strong performances.Kolbe returned from Rio on Monday afternoon after winning a bronze medal with the SA Sevens at the Olympic Games. Argentina aim for two Rugby Championship wins and target Boks in NelspruitArgentina will draw some confidence from having beaten the Springboks in the Rugby Championship in Durban last year. He is ready to fall back in with Western Province during the Currie Cup for the time being.“It would be a dream come true to wear the green and gold of the Springboks‚ but I can’t control selection‚” Kolbe told Times Media Digital.“I just have to focus on the next challenge in front of me‚ which is the Currie Cup‚ and concentrate on my processes and then hopefully the call [from Coetzee] might come.“I made the decision to focus on sevens this year and I don’t regret a thing‚” he said. Looking at Allister for the championshipBackrow selections are likely to shape the Rugby Championship which kicks off next week. “The decision was an easy one because there was a good understanding between myself and the coaches at 15s and sevens level about what was expected of me.“Preparing for the Olympics was intense but I’ve been looking after my body‚ I’m still young and I’m full of energy and ready to get back into playing 15s.”The Springboks are in Nelspruit preparing for their Rugby Championship opening match against Argentina at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday. - TMG Sport..

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