“What a player!”
In that concise and frank sentence Munster defence coach Denis Leamy explained how they see Stormers flyhalf Manie Libbok.
Leamy was fronting up to the media in the build-up to the United Rugby Championship Final on Saturday, where the defending-champion Stormers host Munster in Cape Town.
The Irish province defence guru said they have been monitoring Libbok closely for a while.
“He’s such a talent that boy, you could just watch reels of him,” Leamy said of the 25-year-old No.1- – who was capped three times by the Springboks last year.
The Irish coach was particularly impressed with Libbok’s passing and his kick-passing skills.
“He is just world-class,” Leamy said.
“His ability to put the ball on a low trajectory and put it through the air really quickly [is great].
“That’s really special.
“He is a very special player, is Libbok.'”
(Article continues below Denis Leamy interview …)
While the Irish have admiration for the Stormers’ magic man, they also know that limiting his influence is vital if they are to win in the Final.
“He’s the type of player that we have to try and take time and space away from him,” Leamy said.
“We will go back to our fundamentals and framework in terms of how we want to control the speed of the ball and how we nullify him a little bit in terms of how we defend together.
“It’s a huge task.
“He’s definitely a massive player for the Stormers.
He’s a “guy we’ll try and curtail through our framework.”
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