Anything is possible for Bok Bomb Squad

SPRINGBOK scrum coach Daan Human looked nervous when asked if the invention of Andre Esterhuizen as a centre-cum-flank has opened up the door for an 8-0 Bomb Squad, but he did not discount the possibility.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

Esterhuizen was a flank at school before moving to the backline and now the leftfield thinking of Rassie Erasmus has him going full circle.

He is a prime slab of Klerksdorp beef at 113kg and 1.92m, and at age 31, he still has plenty of miles on the clock, especially if he makes a success of his transition to a “hybrid” role of the ultimate utility-player. There are very few, if any, other international backs who are comfortable roving between the forwards and the backline.

Former Lions centre Marius Louw moved from flank at Grey College to centre at the Sharks, but it seldom happens the other way around.

Erasmus probably got the idea from seeing Esterhuizen moving to flank for the Sharks during a few crisis matches this season when their pack was suddenly depleted by yellow cards or injuries. “Andre is potentially becoming vital for us. He is as big, if not bigger than some of our flanks,” Human said, at a press conference ahead of Saturday’s first Test against Italy in Pretoria.