#TuksRugby: Clyde Lewis keeps scoring tries for Tuks in the 2021 FNB Varsity Cup tournament

Posted on April 23, 2021

Scoring tries in the FNB Varsity Cup tournament has become second nature to Tuks's Clyde Lewis. 

He seems to be one of those exceptional players who can foil the defensive play of any opposition team without fail with the ball in hand. It is what has led to him scoring in all three games so far.

This paragraph appeared last year in an article written about Lewis's rugby prowess. A year later, it is still relevant, albeit with a few changes. In 2020, Lewis captained Tuks's Young Guns playing fullback. He now plays scrumhalf for Tuks. But that is it. The rest is the same. He still scores a try every time he plays. In three games for Tuks, he has scored three tries.

As was the case last year, Lewis still refuses to take sole credit for his heroics. He sees scoring a try as finishing off what his teammates started. Rugby for him will always be about what is best for the team and not personal statistics. 

It is this attitude that led to him playing scrumhalf. There was an "SOS" at the beginning of the season. Scrumhalf needed. Lewis let himself be convinced to take up the challenge. Knowing he is taking a risk. To change positions at short notice could have led to him spending more time on the bench than on the field, but he did it anyway. 

The youngster took to the new challenge as a "fish to water". It is hard to believe that the Varsity Cup game against NWU Eagles was only the fourth time he donned the number nine jersey. 

Lewis, however, admits that he has sent out his own mini "SOS". He phoned the Springbok scrumhalf, Embrose Papier. To get the gist of what playing scrumhalf is about, unfortunately, Papier was on holiday. He only got a few telephonic pointers which he made work for him on the field.

But he is used to doing his homework. Last year, when he played fullback, he tried to emulate the Springbok World Cup hero, Cheslin Kolbe.

"Cheslin proved that size does not matter on the field. It is all about 'heart'. That is something Cheslin has not a shortage of," explained Lewis.

Now he is analysing the All Blacks scrumhalf, Aaron Smith, to see why he is considered to be one of the world's best.

"It seems Aaron Smith controls the flow of All Blacks, facilitating and dictating the speed of the phase play, wearing a defensive line down and creating 'lightning quick' ball for the backs to work off. I aim to try and do the same." 

Lewis originates from Dysselsdorp. While at school, Lewis was an enthusiastic sprinter who could 'blitz' the 100 metres in a time of 10.80s.

"I will be forever grateful to mom for the decision she took to move to George. It was a drastic step, but she wanted me to have a fair chance to fulfil my potential, whatever it might be. My dad used to be quite a good footballer on his day, but due to the lack of opportunities, he never got to fulfil his dreams," explained Lewis, who matriculated at Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale.

To relax and clear his mind, Lewis likes to go to a golf driving range to hit a few balls. There is nothing he would like more than to be invited to play a proper round so he can get to test his newfound skills. 

- Author Wilhelm De Swardt

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