Mapoe, Rhule eye Bok jersey

THE Springboks could have a black player as the heir to the outside centre position as Lions' Lionel Mapoe and Cheetahs' Raymond Rhule continue making a case for themselves in catching the eye of Bok coach Heyneke Meyer.

One of the two should follow in the footsteps of former Bok Gcobani Bobo, whose international career was cut short due to recurring injury after being dubbed as one of SA's greatest centres.

Rhule, 19, has been the cause of much excitement in rugby circles after switching from wing to No 13 recently in the Cheetahs' Currie Cup campaign, and the Ghanaian-born player has excelled in the position. Rhule is the leading try-scorer with eight to his name in the competition.

For Mapoe, a series of injuries during the Lions' Super Rugby campaign was a blessing in disguise as it afforded the PE-born player unexpected opportunities. Injuries to centres Dylan des Fountain, Doppies la Grange and Alwyn Hollenbach led to then-coach John Mitchell shifting Mapoe from wing.

The 24-year-old has not looked back since, making the No 13 Lions jersey his and causing plenty of headaches for the opposition since the positional shift.

Mapoe received a call-up to the Springbok squad in the Four Nations tournament ahead of their clash against the All Blacks, but is yet to be capped.

Now Mapoe wants to be a permanent feature in the national team and wants to make the No 13 jersey his. He believes the positional switch has been the best thing to happen to him.

With the Lions not taking part in next year's Super Rugby competition, speculation has been rife that Mapoe could switch to neighbours, the Bulls, on a loan agreement until the Johannesburg side returns to the competition in 2014.

However, Mapoe would not confirm nor deny the speculation.