Ex-Springbok No 8 Shaun Sowerby has singled out one the player he believes will be pivotal in Bordeaux Bègles’ Investec Champions Cup playoff campaign.
The defending champions head into Sunday’s quarter-final against fellow French giants Toulouse with momentum and belief, after a statement performance last weekend, thrashing Leicester Tigers 64-14.
Sowerby – who’s in control of Bordeaux’s lineout tactics – told the club’s YouTube channel, that he believes versatile loose forward Cameron Woki has been a major contributor to the side’s success so far this season.
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“Cameron has certainly helped us. He is an excellent player in the line out and one of the best on the counter-attack that I’ve been able to coach.”
Woki’s ability to impact both set piece and open play has added another dimension to an already star-studded Bordeaux side chasing back-to-back European titles.
But Sowerby admits the champions are still searching for the perfect balance in their game, especially after losing ground in the French Top 14 due to an inconsistent start to season.
“For us, last season was very successful and there’s always this feeling that we still need to find that dynamic that allows us to play a balanced game at the right level all the time.”
While his focus is firmly on Bordeaux’s Champions Cup defence, Sowerby also shared his thoughts on the Springboks as they build towards the next World Cup.
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The former Bok believes the world champions have laid strong foundations, but says time will tell whether they can match the long-term dominance once achieved by New Zealand.
“There’s been a lot of good work done for several consecutive years. The fact that they’re two-time World Champions means this team deserves to be talked about,” he said.
“Compared to the All Blacks, who’ve built a success rate and winning rate of over 90 percent. So for me, we maybe have to wait a little bit longer to see if they can sustain their winning form for that long.”
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