The reluctant role model

By WYNNE GRAY

It was easy to notice Lawrence Sephaka at secondary school, the only black pupil among 1200 boys at his college in the East Rand area near Johannesburg.

But it was more his physique than colour which caught the attention of one rugby master who suggested the teenager turn his talents to rugby.

Until then Sephaka's sporting passion, like many in the coloured and black communities, was soccer.

"But they had sorted out who they wanted in their soccer teams and they were desperate for some more kids to play rugby," he recalled. "I had the size and decided to give it a go."

It was a decision which brought him success in South African age-group sides at under-19, -21 and -23 levels and his first test cap against the US in Dallas two years ago.

Today, as he celebrates his 25th birthday, the loosehead prop is preparing to play at Carisbrook against the All Blacks for the third time in his career.

Sephaka is a Zulu, brought up in poverty, but who saw sport and his academic ability as his way to a better life.

As a child he spoke his native language and English before having to learn Afrikaans when he earned his place at secondary school.

"It wasn't too bad because I grew up with a lot of coloured boys who used a lot of slang Afrikaans and I was able to refine that and learn pretty quickly," he said.

Sephaka did not feel any extra pressure to succeed at secondary school because of his colour.

"Not really. It was all about leading the sort of life I could only have dreamed of and I knew that I just had to put my head down and do my schoolwork well and my sport. It was just a great opportunity.

"I felt privileged."

The impression he made, like his 115kg, was substantial. He made the first XV and was head boy of his high school hostel.

At Rands Afrikaans University, he studied sports management but his greatest development was as a frontrower, a very solid loosehead prop who could also play on the other side of the scrum.

Only a few other black or coloured tight forwards have made it in South Africa to the top.

Hookers Dale Santon and Hanyani Shimange are a couple and Sephaka remembers a few others but is not sure why they got lost in the system.

His eyes are set on a solid performance tomorrow and a place in the World Cup squad.

A few months ago that focus was horrifically diverted.

As he drove to Johannesburg Airport early one morning to catch a connecting flight to a Bok training camp in Cape Town, he hit and killed a woman pedestrian.

"It was bad but I do not have any nightmares about it now," he said.

"I have put it behind me, it has been sorted out and there is nothing like a court appearance. It was an accident. It was a very dark road, there were no lights and everything happened so quickly I can't really explain it."

But the incident shook him up for a few days.

He worked even harder at his rugby and, with Rob Kempson banned after his dangerous tackle last week on Toutai Kefu, is now a starting prop.

"I am just trying to appreciate the moment because you are only as good as your last game and we have the World Cup soon, which would be the pedestal of my life," he said.

Sephaka will not name the props he has found difficult to handle but believes he has sorted out much of the technical areas of his game.

"The rest of it at test level is about having the hunger and commitment and we all have that for this game with the All Blacks," he said. "We have not got our game together yet and this is a great opportunity for us to show the game we want to play."

Playing for the Springboks not only showcases Sephaka's talent but suggests a path for other aspiring black rugby players.

But he does not see himself as a role model.

"I am told there are others who have joined the sport because of me and that is great but I just have to concentrate on doing my job."