Ebersohn ready for the big time
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:52
The Free State Cheetahs are looking to rediscover some flair in their backline play, and hence have selected Robert Ebersohn at inside centre for Saturday's Currie Cup match against the Sharks.
Cheetahs backline coach Hawies Fourie told Volksblad on Thursday that 19-year-old Ebersohn is ready for senior rugby.
There have been huge expectations of Ebersohn ever since his school days, but the youngster will have his first chance to show off his talents on the big stage.
"Robert brings a lot of flair to the team - something we need quite badly," said Fourie.
"He is a distributor, a good defender and a good competitor.
In a recent match for the South African Under-20 team, he turned over four balls after tackling an opponent, which shows that he's also good on the ground," Fourie continued.
Fourie also felt that Ebersohn was not scared to take on his opponents.
Springbok Meyer Bosman would have lined up at No.12 against the Sharks, had he recovered from his thigh injury, with Ebersohn at outside centre.
But now Ebersohn will have even more responsibility on his young shoulders, playing at No.12, with JW Jonker at No.13.
"I spoke to Robert to ask whether he was ready for the first XV, or whether he wanted to play of the bench for a while longer," said Fourie.
"He said he's 100 percent ready and did not hesitate at all when I asked him.
"I also spoke to Chris [Rossouw] after practice [on Tuesday] and asked him if there was anything that we needed to help Robert with.
"He said that Robert was ready, and that he [Rossouw] was comfortable playing together with him."
Rossouw, Ebersohn and Jonker have been working on their defence and their attack as a unit this week, according to Fourie.
Head coach Naka Drotské said that there was also a chance that another promising 19-year-old playmaker, Wilton Pietersen, could see some game time for the Cheetahs over the coming weeks.
Despite the fact that Ebersohn and Pietersen are undeniably talented, the Cheetahs management will be careful not to chuck their future stars in at the deep end.
Drotské feels that both players possess exceptional qualities considering their tender years.
"There are few youngsters that have such impressive physical attributes at such a young age, while at the same time displaying such good decision-making."
