The standout moment of the 2019 showpiece match in Japan, if not the entire tournament, was Lukhanyo Am gifting an unmarked Makazole Mapimpi a no-look pass to seal the Springboks’ first try in a Rugby World Cup final.
It, of course, also helped break England’s back en route to a 32-12 victory.
This week that selfless act was reciprocated but perhaps not in the way Mapimpi had intended. He made the near ultimate sacrifice. His partner-in-tries had been left out of the World Cup squad because of a knee injury against Argentina in Buenos Aires on the eve of the announcement.
Am’s absence from the 33-man squad came as a shock, but Mapimpi’s unveiling at the same gathering was greeted with rapturous applause and dancing in the isles.
Am was placed on a standby list of six players who would be called upon should the squad need to be replenished and fitness requirements be met. Flyhalf Handré Pollard had already made his return to the squad as hooker Malcolm Marx’s replacement and this time it was Am’s turn to be roped in as Mapimpi suffered untimely misfortune.
What makes Mapimpi’s rotten luck harder to swallow was his resurgent form in his last few games. He bagged the Man of the Match award in the Boks’ 76-0 win over Romania in Bordeaux after scoring a hat-trick. He had looked hungry, urgent, a man back on a mission.
By the time he departed the scene just short of the half-hour mark against Tonga at Stade Vélodrome, with a facial fracture, Mapimpi had not added to his 26 Test tries in 41 games. His strike-rate ranks among the best in Bok history.
Perhaps his resurgent form was due to the increased competition for places in the Springbok set-up. The Boks’ hero from the last World Cup had lost ground on younger wings who had become part of the Bok establishment. Kurt-Lee Arendse has taken to Test rugby like a duck to water, while Canan Moodie also put his best foot forward at the first time of asking.
On the day the World Cup squad was announced Mapimpi spoke about how proud he was to see younger wings come through and contest for a place in the Bok match-day team.
“Those young guys are always pushing to get the next jersey. There’s nothing wrong, we have to compete at the same time, we are not fighting. That helps make the team better.
“I’m very proud of the guys that have come up. Grant [Williams], Canan [Moodie]. They are getting us to do better because they come with good energy and a fresh mindset. It is good for the team.”
At 33 years Mapimpi is unlikely to play another World Cup. His dream of winning back-to-back Webb Ellis Cups is now over.
For Am, however, the dream that was momentarily on ice has now been revived. Though he can play wing it is at inside centre where Am is likely to be stationed. Jesse Kriel has played out of his socks filling the No. 13 jersey in recent matches. He is likely to, for now, remain in the inside lane in that position. Canan Moodie, who has played there against the All Blacks in London and two World Cup matches against Romania and Tonga, will now probably be considered on the wing.
That, of course, remains a congested field with Cheslin Kolbe, Arendse and Grant Williams seeing game time there.
The elongated Moodie, however, offers something different on the periphery. Bringing more power to a wider channel may be the antidote in the potential quarterfinal against France.
Mapimpi’s race may be run but the baton has been handed over while he was at full tilt.
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