Springbok standout Jan Serfontein feeling lucky at 13
Impressive performer in the last two tests likely to be at outside centre again against Australia on Saturday
The emergence of Jan Serfontein in an unfamiliar position has been one of the plus points for South Africa in a Rugby Championship campaign that has otherwise proven disappointing.
The 21-year-old is set to again be asked to play at outside centre against Australia at Newlands on Saturday, a role in the backline he is enjoying despite early frustrations away from his more natural number 12 inside centre position.
Whatever his initial reservations, he was a standout backline performer in the last two tests against Australia and New Zealand, both of which ended in narrow defeats, having been the side’s top tackler in difficult away conditions.
The quality of his tackling is impressive and against New Zealand he made 24 in the game and in Perth [against Australia] it was 21. In both matches he made the most
With no natural outside centre in the Springbok squad, it is a position he fills more out of necessity than by design, but it does mean he gets to play alongside the man he is sure to eventually replace at inside centre, captain Jean de Villiers.
"At 12 you get a lot more of the ball, especially in our structure, but at 13 there is not as much so it has taken some adaptation as I like to feel the ball in my hands. It can be a bit frustrating," Serfontein said.
"But on defence 13 is just one channel wider and in general play we switch around quite a bit, so on the whole I think I have adapted quite well. I’m starting to enjoy it."
De Villiers, with a century of caps, is the perfect mentor, according to Serfontein, who also started three of his 14 tests on the wing.