Little-known Springboks alignment camp prop compared to Frans Malherbe

David Skippers 30 Apr 2024 4:46 PM

Springboks at training and Jimmy Stonehouse.jpg — The Springboks during a training session and Pumas head coach Jimmy Stonehouse.

Unheralded front-row Sampie Swiegers, who was a surprise call-up to the latest Springboks alignment camp, has earned high praise from his coach at Currie Cup outfit the Pumas, who compared him to double World Cup winner Frans Malherbe.

Ahead of South Africa’s first Test of the year against Wales at Twickenham on June 22, and with that game falling outside the international window, Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus has been forced to look at players from the lower rungs of the South African rugby ladder.

This is due to this year’s United Rugby Championship (URC) final taking place on the same day as the Test at Twickenham, which means Erasmus could be without two sets of players if the Bulls and Stormers, or even the Lions, make the final.

Surprise selection

That has led to the Boks mentor having to cast his net quite wide especially with his front-row options and the selection of Swiegers for the alignment camp caught most of the South African rugby public by surprise.

The 25-year-old recently joined the Pumas’ Currie Cup side, after captaining NWU Eagles to a Varsity Cup victory in 2023. Swiegers was the only player invited who does not have any URC or European rugby experience.

But despite his lack of experience, his coach at the Pumas, Jimmy Stonehouse, is impressed with how Swiegers has adapted in his new surroundings.

“He does well in a team environment,” Stonehouse told Sport24. “He’s very accessible, he’s got great manners, he’s hardworking and is a great team player as well.

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“He’s a good scrummager and he’s a good kid, obviously we believe he can make it, but we will see when he gets to the Currie Cup – that’s when you really see what guys are worth.”

Stonehouse believes that the decision to bring Swiegers into the Bok alignment camp probably came from Springboks scrum coach Daan Human, who worked with the young prop while assisting the Pumas with their scrummaging.

“We had Daan here once or twice to assist us, I think he also saw what he’s got in him,” he said. “Daan was here last year when we were preparing for the Airlink Cup, he looked at Sampie scrum and he had the idea that maybe this kid can make it.

“The way he’s built, the way he scrums, is exactly like Frans Malherbe, so maybe they had this vision… it’s not necessarily going to be correct, but you still need to have an idea of what you’re looking for. Daan phoned me and said they were looking at him, but in the same breath, the Currie Cup will teach you a few things.