Ex-All Blacks playmaker Stephen Donald believes that Cheslin Kolbe can be the Springboks\u2019 Christian Cullen after he took the full-back role for the Japan clash.<\/p>\n
With Aphelele Fassi and Damian Willemse on the sidelines, and Willie le Roux being eased out of the Test picture, head coach Rassie Erasmus has decided to put the 32-year-old in the 15 jersey.<\/p>\n
It is only the second time that Kolbe<\/a> has been selected in that position having also lined up at full-back against Ireland three years ago.<\/p>\n Whether it proves to be a long-term option for the Springboks<\/a>, it remains to be seen, but Donald reckons that he can thrive there.<\/p>\n More opportunities for Cheslin Kolbe to attack<\/p>\n \u201c[Damian] Willemse pulled a hamstring playing for the Stormers in the URC. They\u2019ve got plenty of depth there, they\u2019ve got Fassi, there\u2019s talk of maybe putting Sacha [Feinberg-Mngomezulu] back there with [Manie] Libbok or [Handre] Pollard at 10,\u201d he said on The Aftermatch with Kirst and Beav.<\/p>\n \u201cBut for me I can\u2019t see any parts of Cheslin\u2019s game that would not mean he could play 15.<\/p>\n \u201cRealistically, in the modern game, there\u2019s not a whole lot of difference defensively from a wing to full-back.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re all exposed to high ball pressure, covering the backfield he will well and truly be across, I just think it\u2019s an opportunity to get more ball in his hands if you look at it from a Springboks point of view.<\/p>\n \u201cWe both grew up watching Christian Cullen and could Cheslin Kolbe be that sort of full-back? Why not.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re playing Japan, respectively, the Miracle of Brighton was a decade ago, it\u2019s not happening \u2013 this is a different beast.\u201d<\/p>\n