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Ntuthuko Mchunu is on the rise. (Gallo images)
- Ntuthuko Mchunu, 21, announced himself to the wider rugby crowd with a wonderful try for the Sharks against the Lions on Saturday.
- The loose-headed mainstay launched a dazzling run from 52 meters when his coach, Sean Everitt, hailed him as “South Africa’s rising star in rugby.”
- A turned loose forward, Mchunu now truly looks like a player who can follow in the footsteps of the legendary Beast Mtawarira.
They may not have won on the scoreboard, but the Sharks appear to have won much more for the future, as Ntuthuko Mchunu was announced in Saturday’s 40-43 loss to the Lions in the warm-up series.
The powerful 21-year-old scored one of the biggest attempts by a South African mainstay, executing a brilliant line from hooker Dylan Richardson’s pass to unbelievably beat six defenders on his way to scoring a 52-meter try.
It really drew comparisons to former Springbok leader Richard Bands’ sweeping score against the All Blacks in a Tri Nations game back in 2003.
This has to be one of the best prop attempts Ntuthuko Mchunu is likely to see in the Sharks’ 40-43 loss to the Lions. The comment around 30 seconds though ???? pic.twitter.com/85EJYOWDFJ
– Supersport? (@SuperSportTV) March 20, 2021
More pertinently, there is now genuine hope that Mchunu, who was still playing No. 8 at Maritzburg College in 2018, can follow in the footsteps of Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira.
The Springbok legend notably made the switch from forward loose to loose toe as well.
“Ntuthuko was one of the highlights for us (in this game),” Sean Everitt, the Sharks’ head coach, said later.
“He must be the most promising player in South African rugby at the moment. He seems to be getting better every week.”
“Today he showed us the pace that he has and that comes from being a loose striker previously. There have been a lot of positives that we’ve seen from the guys in the setup series to date.”
READ | Sharks sunk by last minute penalty as Lions shade carefree thriller
Mchunu is not a one trick pony.
He made a huge impression against the Cheetahs at Bloemfontein nearly a fortnight ago, making an impressive scrum by helping the Durbanites force three penalties from set pieces while also charging vigorously.
Not bad for a young man who to date has only played as a mainstay at the senior level three times.
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