While the public debate continues on the goalkicking prowess of Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok, Bok management team have made it quite clear they are happy with him and will continue backing him.

Part of the reason is that there is no other frontline goalkicker in the squad at the moment, and barring injury, the return of Handre Pollard is not on the cards either.

So while it has become a talking point that has dominated the Boks last two test matches, Libbok will continue to be backed to the hilt, with the Bok management hoping he comes right with the goalkicking at some point before the World Cup.

This Friday night against the All Blacks will be the first time that Libbok starts against the old enemy, and there is unlikely to be as great a test for him at 10 than against those in the black jersey.

While there was a lot of positives from Libbok’s game that the Boks can always bring up - the passing that made tries for Canan Moodie and Damian Willemse against Wales, it has been the goalkicking that has garnered the attention.

And with test points at a premium and a very close Rugby World Cup expected, it is natural for there to be some fears ahead of the showpiece tournament, especially when the international goalkicking average tends to be around 80 per cent.

While most goalkickers tend to take a dip and come back again, it is notable that Libbok is kicking at around 75 per cent overall but at 56 per cent during the last two tests, and that has elevated the concern.

Some of the kicks have been regulation ones and the Boks have had to face questions about whether they will bring in any specialist help for the goalkicking.

With no specialist kicking coach on the management team, they tend to handle it internally, and when considering the back-ups at the moment, it isn’t surprising they are backing Libbok to come through.

Damian Willemse is not a natural goalkicker, although he has done well in the position during the November tour last year. But he does tend to let it influence the rest of his game and the Boks aren’t keen to put that pressure on him.

Faf de Klerk and Cheslin Kolbe both kicked during the loss against the All Blacks but neither is seen as a regular frontline goalkicker.

So behind the scenes the Boks will continue to back Libbok and look for positive signs that his troubles with the boot are healing.

“We are happy where Manie is. If a hooker misses four lineouts, because it’s a specialist skill for the world to see, like lineout throwing, like the high ball and like kicking for poles. I think it gets amplified a little bit more,” coach Jacques Nienaber explained during the team announcement.

“But we are very happy where he is. We would prefer having him create eight tries for us and then work on his goal kicking than not have him in the side.”

The Boks are hoping Libbok linking up with his DHL Stormers teammate Willemse will spur a bit more confidence as well, especially as the two interlink well at other levels.

“In terms of the combination they’ve been playing together for quite some time now. Even when I coached the SA U20s they were playing together. So they have been playing together on a national level from SA Schools and SA U20,” said Nienaber.

“I think they are a very good combination like they have been at the Stormers and now on a national level.”

But until the needle moves back towards the 80 per cent level, Libbok will continue to attract scrutiny, and in a game of inches, it could be a crucial difference in the World Cup defence.