Cape Town – When Sikhumbuzo Notshe replaced Nizaam Carr against the Rebels on Saturday, he didn’t look like a player who had previously been very much on the fringes under Springbok coach Allister Coetzee.
Notshe came on for the injured Carr shortly before half-time and immediately made everyone aware that he was on the field.
He topped a fine showing with a marvellous running line to send Damian de Allende over for a thrilling try under the posts.
Yet, Notshe remains something of an outside man.
He has played at No 6 for most of his career and can slot into any spot in the back row, but he has had to patiently wait his turn with the likes of Rynhardt Elstadt, Siya Kolisi, Carr and Stormers icon Schalk Burger tightly gripping the three jerseys.
And his hustle for a spot has continued under Robbie Fleck. After approaching the Stormers chief to ask if he could get a shot at wearing the fetcher jersey at the start of the 2016 season, Notshe got his way and started against the Bulls at Newlands in their season-opener.
An injury to Elstadt, whom Eddie Jones is believed to have earmarked for the fetcher role in his fleeting stay at the Stormers, opened the door for Notshe. It gave him an opportunity to bring some stability to a position that was a problem long before Elstadt’s injury.
Earlier this season, there was a lot of speculation around who Fleck would give a go at No 6. At one stage Kolisi looked like the top contender. He has since moved around, just like the rest of the loose forwards, all of whom were not helped by Fleck’s early-season rotation policy. Kolisi has just come off a very disappointing stint with the Springboks in the three-Test series against Ireland and his performance against the Rebels last weekend wasn’t much better.
But Notshe cementing his place as the starting fetcher isn’t even the issue. The problem is that he has been pulled around and tried at No 6, 7 and 8 and he has shown that he can deliver. These starting spots have gone to men who have been given too many chances to mess up.
This year, Carr outplayed David Pocock at Newlands, but some of his other performances were sub-par. Yet, Notshe only got a chance to shine when Carr left the field against the Rebels with a shoulder injury.
Notshe is a great linking player. His attacking and running skills are top class. And he doesn’t shy away from the breakdowns and contact areas. He has proven that he can play anywhere in the back row and his versatility is valuable. The game against the Rebels was just another example of his ability. He made his share of one-on-one tackles. There was that breathtaking running line in the De Allende try. He always shot to the breakdowns. There was nothing lacking.
With the injured Carr out of the picture for now, Notshe deserves a chance to prove himself again, even though he has already done that before.
The modern game has changed a lot, and with everyone expected to contribute at the breakdowns, the debate rages on whether teams should pick a specialist fetcher or not.
Notshe can be your fetcher or link-man or a roving loosie or a combination of all three. Irrespective of what role he plays, he's got the talent for an extended run. - The Star