Ken Borland

Proteas regulars Temba Bavuma and Andile Phehlukwayo were considered excess to requirements in the initial stages of the SA20 auction on Monday, but Tristan Stubbs enjoyed a massive payday that should ensure he is not short of pocketmoney for a while.

Bavuma, who will captain South Africa at the T20 World Cup next month, failed to attract a bid at his base-price of R850 000, and will be hoping for a late reprieve on Monday night if a franchise requests that he be added to the express rounds that will end the auction.

All-rounder Phehlukwayo also had a base price of R850 000 and was not bought. Clearly the international market has looked at their averages and strike/economy rates and considered them too mediocre.

That was certainly not the case when it came to the sensational new talent of Stubbs, who is just 22 years old but has already made his mark at international level.

Stubbs, a devastating finisher who is also a great fielder and can bowl some spin, attracted the highest price of the auction – a life-changing R9.2 million paid by Sunrisers Eastern Cape.

MI Cape Town just kept their paddle in the air from the moment Stubbs went on auction, from his base price of R175 000 into the millions. They eventually bowed out at R4.6 million as the Sunrisers made a concerted effort to keep Stubbs at St George’s Park. Joburg Super Giants pushed the price past a new high of R7 million and then MI Cape Town came back, before the Eastern Cape franchise held on to keep their star player.

MI Cape Town coach Simon Katich said Stubbs had become like a son to him during the recent Hundred competition in England and he was disappointed not to get him again.

“I’ve just worked with Tristan in The Hundred and he feels like my third son, that’s how much we enjoyed working with each other. He’s a Mumbai Indians player in the IPL as well. He’s a special talent, which is why we went so hard for him,” Katich said.

Rilee Rossouw’s inspirational reputation in T20 cricket saw him claim the second-highest price, going to Pretoria Capitals for R6.9 million.

Great things are expected of bowling all-rounder Marco Jansen, who went to Sunrisers Eastern Cape for R6.1 million, while another left-armer who can belt the ball, Wane Parnell fetched R5.6 million from Pretoria Capitals in recognition of the miraculous deeds of which he is capable.

Sisanda Magala was also in the top-five earners, despite his lack of Proteas attention, Sunrisers Eastern Cape again going hard for one of their most-desired players, grabbing the death-bowling specialist for R5.4 million.

Madosh Tambwe is enjoying a commanding United Rugby Championship campaign on the wing for the Bulls, but is set for a big payday in France with Bordeaux Begles reportedly making a large offer for his services, something the 24-year-old did not wish to comment on on Monday.

While the Kinshasa-born Tambwe is believed to not be eligible for the Springboks because he does not have a South African passport, his performances in the URC have certainly raised questions about whether he could one day play international rugby.

Former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers, who played 15 of his 109 Tests on the wing, says the backing Bulls coach Jake White is giving Tambwe is paying off.

“Madosh is certainly playing well, but he’ll be coming up against the tougher teams now at full-strength. So if he can compete with them and put in good, consistent performances, we could see him stake a claim to step up to international level.

“He’s moved around quite a bit in his career, but we can see at the Bulls the impact a coach who believes in him is having. Madosh is a natural finisher, which is what you want in a wing.

“Look at Makazole Mapimpi: he has the ability to be in the right place and can score tries out of nothing, and I think Madosh could do the same.

“The way he handles the kicking game has been questioned in the past, but he has really improved there and his decision-making in defence has improved too,” De Villiers told The Citizen on Monday.

The 2007 World Cup winner said in order for Tambwe to force his way into a well-stocked Springbok back three, he needs to cut out the little mistakes that are amplified at Test level.

“At national level, you’re looking for a wing who can really limit his mistakes, that and finishing ability really make up the best wingers.

“Madosh just needs to bring his error-rate down a bit, things like losing the ball in contact or being tackled out into touch. But they are small things,” De Villiers said.

The Bulls are apparently willing to let Tambwe go early from his contract, with the compensation they will be paid by Bordeaux allowing the Pretoria franchise to target the signature of the Sharks’ World Cup winning wing Sbu Nkosi.

The Sharks have confirmed an offer from the Bulls is on the table, but “negotiations still have to happen”.