The first instalment of the South African derby last weekend threw up one incredible match but also showcased the contrasting uses of two very talented locks. Toyota Cheetahs’ Sintu Manjezi and Isuzu Southern Kings second row Bobby de Wee both had a huge impact on the game, but in very different ways. The Cheetahs of course won the game in incredibly dramatic style, still 13 points down with five minutes left to play before Rhyno Smith ghosted over the line and then produced a catch worthy of Jonty Rhodes to steal the points. De Wee didn’t actually start the game, making his impactful contribution in 19 minutes eyebrow-raising, whereas Manjezi started and came off after 67 minutes. You can’t make much more impact than scoring two tries in a game, which Manjezi did, going over from close range on 33 minutes and 49 minutes – lots of big locks can make big carries but having that killer instinct to score two tries is rare. [video width=“1200” height=“1200” mp4=“https://d2cx26qpfwuhvu.cloudfront.net/pro12/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/29114200/Player-Head-to-Head-StatsTwitter482189.mp4”][/video] Perhaps a reflection of the game, in which Cheetahs dominated possession and territory overall, the stats show that Manjezi was primarily occupied as an attacking weapon, making ten carries but just one tackle. That is in complete contrast to De Wee’s firebrand 19-minute cameo off the bench, astonishingly making nine thumping tackles in that time but only one carry. Not that he had much choice, those 19 minutes at the end of the game were pretty much all Cheetahs attacking as they sought the comeback, but to put it into context only five Kings starters made more tackles than de Wee, he was everywhere. De Wee’s performance is not just one for the numbers either, one diving tackle over a ruck forced a knock-on while he also stole a crucial lineout defending his line on 71 minutes, momentarily stemming the tide. Let’s hope both men start the re-match on Saturday – in what should be another frenetic fixture.
