Tony Brown has highlighted how important Andre Esterhuizen is to the Springboks\u2019 cause and how the impact of his utility value is boosting the world champions.<\/b><\/p>\n
Despite playing most of their match against France in Paris at the weekend with 14 men \u2013 after Lood de Jager was red carded for foul play \u2013 the Springboks adapted almost immediately to that setback with Esterhuizen playing a big part in helping his side to beat Les Bleus at the Stade de France.<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old, who usually plays as an inside centre, was on the world champions\u2019 bench as a hybrid player and in the 48th minute, he replaced the Boks\u2019 first choice number 12 Damian de Allende.<\/p>\n
And although Esterhuizen<\/a> was a like-for-like replacement for De Allende, Springboks<\/a> head coach Rassie Erasmus also used him to play on the flank in the tight exchanges.<\/p>\n Played a key role in Springboks\u2019 victory<\/p>\n That tactic proved handy as Esterhuizen made his presence felt in the scrums \u2013 as the Boks dominated Les Bleus in that department on several occasions and were rewarded with some penalties \u2013 and the lineouts and he was rewarded for his efforts with a try off the back of a driving maul in the 65th minute.<\/p>\n It was not the first time that Esterhuizen had fulfilled the hybrid position for his country. He was first used in the hybrid role during the Boks\u2019 one-sided 54-7 victory in an exhibition match against the Barbarians in Cape Town in June, and during his side\u2019s 43-10 Rugby Championship win against the All Blacks in Wellington in September.<\/p>\n Brown<\/a> was full of praise for Esterhuizen\u2019s ability to adapt to his new role in the Springboks set-up and said his cameo off the bench in Wellington, where three of their backline players were replaced in the opening half, helped them to decide on the make-up of their bench for the France Test.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving Andre float between the forwards and the backs is crucial for us going forward,\u201d he told Supersport. \u201cI think his ability to scrum more, carry with the forwards, but then also defend with the backs or attack with the backs is a massive advantage for us.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving him in Wellington, he made an amazing impact in that game and then against France, outstanding as well.<\/p>\n