Drooling Sharks ‘blown away’ by ‘great’ Makazole Mapimpi

If Dick Muir is the addition to the Sharks’ coaching staff that brings the X-factor to their way of playing in Super Rugby this year, then Makazole Mapimpi is the signing that will execute that plan.

The 27-year-old winger has become one of the most exciting players on the domestic circuit in little more than a year.

Since bursting onto the scene with the Kings in their Super Rugby swansong in 2017, he proved a try-scoring machine for the Cheetahs in Europe’s Pro14 competition and already has crossed the whitewash for his latest team in pre-season.

“I must say I’ve been blown away by what Makazole offers on the field,” said Muir.

“He’s just incredibly quick. He’s work rate and communication on the field has been outstanding. So yeah, he’s been great. He scored 28 tries last year and he’s scored here too already.”

Given that he’s essentially only had one season of elite-level competition behind him, Mapimpi doesn’t necessarily add vast experience to what is an inexperienced group of wings.

Yet at least the Sharks have the wily, continued excellence of Lwazi Mvovo to balance the equation in that regard.

The 17-cap Springbok is still considered a wing but is expected to make a more permanent move to the fullback position.

Importantly, he’s worked on all the hitches in his game, notably wobbliness under the high ball, which was ruthlessly exposed by Ireland in 2016’s Test series.

“Lwazi’s adapting nicely,” said Muir.

“He’s now very good under the high ball and he’s been working quite hard on his kicking game. The balance is what’s important here, especially in the back three.”

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