Cardiff - Pat Lambie could only watch as Morné Steyn and then new young sensation Handré Pollard took turns at wearing the Springbok No 10 jersey.
Lambie must’ve been wondering what he had done to deserve sustaining a freakish bicep injury against the Bulls in March, and he had to sit out until mid-July. That was when he came back off the Sharks bench in the play-off win over the Highlanders in Durban.
The 24-year-old had ended last year as the first-choice Springbok flyhalf after consistent performances on the corresponding November tour last year, and would’ve wanted to kick on.
But after Steyn’s lack of form in the second half of the Rugby Championship, and with Pollard quite unfairly being made one of the Bok scapegoats for the surprise defeat to Ireland a few weeks ago, Lambie grabbed the No 10 back with a strong display in the 31-28 win over England, and followed it up with another solid outing against Italy at the weekend.
The Sharks pivot is set to hold on to the No 10 jersey for Saturday’s final Test of the year against Wales at the Millennium Stadium, but is well aware that it doesn’t mean he is a shoo-in to start at the World Cup next year, with Pollard his main challenger.
Lambie has thrived on the November tours in recent years, but is not certain of why that is. “I think it’s definitely a healthy competition (with Pollard).
It was great to have Handré, Morné and Johan (Goosen) all in the same squad. We are friends off the field and get along very well, so on the field we push each other and work very well. It’s great to have those players around to learn from and grow with,” Lambie said on Tuesday on a cold and rainy day in Cardiff.
“I’m not really sure (why he plays well in the northern hemisphere). I’ve been lucky to have been given a few opportunities on the northern hemisphere tours in the last few years, and I’ve really enjoyed those games. Thankfully, they’ve come my way this year again.
“I missed out on a lot of rugby, but since June I’ve been involved with most of the squads here, even though I haven’t had all that much game time - only recently really. But I have still been training, travelling and practising. It’s been wonderful to get some opportunities now, and I really want to enjoy it and make the most of it.”
While Bok coach Heyneke Meyer praised him for his tactical kicking against England, Lambie brought in a refreshing attacking edge to his game in Padova last week as he ran hard at the advantage line in the second half, which is something he often does at the Sharks.
“I think as a flyhalf you have to be able to play a tactical game as well as take the line on.
“It’s about knowing when the time is right to do both of those things.
“And it’s something that the coach is big on - he likes his flyhalves to take the ball to the line with front-foot ball, so it’s definitely a focus point,” said Lambie on Tuesday.
Part of Lambie’s success has been due to the slick service that he has been receiving from his provincial teammate Cobus Reinach, who has edged ahead of Francois Hougaard in the scrumhalf stakes after an excellent first Test start against England at Twickenham.
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