‘Kamp Staal Daan’ – Rassie Erasmus posts footage of Human’s Springboks prop camp as Asenathi Ntlabakanye sheds the kilograms

Jared Wright
Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Jan-Hendrik Wessels put through the paces at Daan Human's farm in Bloemfontein

Daan Human put Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Jan-Hendrik Wessels through their paces on his farm in Bloemfontein.

Rassie Erasmus has posted videos of Springboks scrum coach Daan Human putting Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Jan-Hendrik Wessels through their paces on his farm in Bloemfontein.

Human has quickly become a cult-like figure amongst South African rugby fans for his love of the scrum brilliantly captured during the Chasing the Sun 2 docuseries.

During the series, he famously stated that he does not believe in scrum machines as they ‘don’t push back’ with the Springboks forward performing live scrums in training.

‘Kamp Daandraad’

His legend continues to grow following the first Springboks’ matchday squad announcement this week when head coach Erasmus revealed that the scrum guru had been working with Lions prop Ntlabkanye on his farm in the Free State.

The head coach revealed that Human helped Ntlabkanye shed between 15 and 18 kilograms and that he was not the only player to have visited the former Stormers and Toulouse front-rower in the City of Roses.

The Lions prop, who played for South Africa U20s back in 2018 and 2019, tipped the scales at around 160kgs but ahead of his appearance in the Springboks jersey – an uncapped international against the Barbarians – Ntlabkanye weighs around the 140 kilogram mark with Erasmus crediting much of his improvement to his visits to Human in Bloemfontein.

“He went a few times to Daan’s farm and stayed there for a week and Daan worked with him – with the blessing of the Lions coach and CEO – after the Lions fell out of the URC,” Erasmus said.

“Whenever there was a break, he drove to Bloemfontein, went to the farm and he dropped 15 to 18 kilograms. So let’s hope he can now perform at Test match level, that will be great.”

Rassie Erasmus reveals Daan Human’s role in Springboks newbie shedding 18 kilograms

Erasmus has now posted videos of Ntlabakanye’s time in Bloemfontein with Human on Twitter page with the caption ‘Kamp Daandraad!!’, referencing the infamous Springboks camp ahead of the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Kamp Staaldraad was intended to be team bonding with an emphasis on fitness and team building but it ended up being a brutal training camp which included teammates’ bare-knuckle fighting, players shaving their heads and spending time on their own in the bush while naked.

Springbok great Juan Smith’s unique take on the infamous Kamp Staaldraad

Later in the press conference, Erasmus stated that the Lions tighthead prop was not the only player who made the trip out to Human’s farm and while he didn’t name-drop any of the players, he did post videos of Bok utility front-rower Wessels on social media with the caption ‘Jan Hendrik taste Kamp Staal Daan’.

Both players have been included in Erasmus’ team to face the Barbarians in Cape Town on Saturday with Wessels the only Bulls player who has been considered for selection due to the lack of loosehead prop options.

He has been included on the bench with Ntlabakanye named in the starting XV at tighthead prop.

READ MORE: Springboks squad: Winners and losers as Lood de Jager makes long-awaited return while Rassie Erasmus flexes depth

Internationals Asenathi Ntlabakanye Daan Human Jan-Hendrik Wessels Rassie Erasmus

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