Bok A fly-half has unique skill to end rugby as we know it
Something happened over the weekend that was as terrifying as it was impressive. It came as the Lions warmed up at Ellis Park before playing the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship, and it thankfully has been caught on film.
It saw Lions replacement fly-half Gianni Lombard practice his goal kicking, where he pulled out a mammoth kick from just outside his own 22. Yes, his own 22. On top of that, the ball cleared the posts fairly comfortably.
Of course, this kick was at altitude, which definitely would give the kicker some extra distance, but that was still an almighty effort. Unfortunately for Lombard, he didn’t actually kick any points during the match, but he made a statement in the warm-up.
If kickers start being able to slot kicks from 70 metres out, rugby changes forever, whether for good or for bad. While it could just create kicking competitions, with teams going to the posts at almost every opportunity they have, it would probably reduce the penalty count in games and could as a result speed the game up. For now though, no one is nailing those kind of kicks in matches though, and definitely not at sea level.
Take a look at the kick:
Gianni Lombard kick a monster!@Oom_Rugby @Zels77 pic.twitter.com/iKndUa6GjY
— JJMaritz (@JJMaritz) October 30, 2022
Lombard might be able to impress with the boot in the coming weeks in the green Springboks jersey after being selected for South Africa A.
SA A squad
Forwards (10): Simphiwe Matanzima (Vodacom Bulls), Ntuthuko Mchunu (Cell C Sharks), Sazi Sandi (DHL Stormers), Mornay Smith (Vodacom Bulls), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls), Joseph Dweba (DHL Stormers), Andre-Hugo Venter (DHL Stormers), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Phepsi Buthelezi (Cell C Sharks), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (Cell C Sharks);
Backs (9): Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), Sanele Nohamba (Emirates Lions), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks), Johan Goosen (Vodacom Bulls), Gianni Lombard (Emirates Lions), Aphelele Fassi (Cell C Sharks), Cornal Hendricks (Vodacom Bulls), Suleiman Hartzenberg (DHL Stormers), Henco van Wyk (Emirates Lions).
