Springboks boosted as double World Cup winner makes long-awaited return ahead of All Blacks Tests
Springboks front-row Steven Kitshoff.
Veteran Springboks front-row Steven Kitshoff is set to make his long-awaited return to action this weekend when he takes to the field for Western Province against the Lions in Johannesburg.
The double Rugby World Cup winner has been sidelined with a knee injury, which he sustained while playing for his former club Ulster during their Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat to Clermont in April.
The 32-year-old is a Springboks and Stormers legend and captained the Cape Town-based outfit when they won the inaugural United Rugby Championship (URC) title during the 2021/22 season.
Early return from Ulster
Kitshoff joined Ulster ahead of the 2023/24 campaign on a three-year contract, after the Stormers lost the 2022/23 URC final to Munster, but the loosehead prop returned to his former club after just one season at his new side.
However, his knee injury kept him on the sidelines and he missed the Springboks‘ mid-year internationals against Wales, Ireland and Portugal as well as the world champions’ opening Rugby Championship Tests against the Wallabies in Australia.
If Kitshoff comes through Western Province’s clash with the Lions unscathed, he could earn a recall to the Springboks squad for their upcoming Rugby Championship matches with the All Blacks in Johannesburg on August 31 and Cape Town on September 7.
Kitshoff is joined in Western Province’s front-row by former Springbok hooker Scarra Ntubeni, who he played alongside in the 2012 Currie Cup Final, and Junior Springbok skipper Zachary Porthen, who will make his first start for the senior side.
Meanwhile, another Bok hooker, Andre-Hugo Venter, has been named on Western Province’s replacements bench.
Stormers and Western Province director of rugby John Dobson is delighted to have his international front-row duo available for selection.
‘Will add a lot’
“Steven and Andre-Hugo are top players who will add a lot, while the return of players such as Louw Nel, CJ Velleman and Wandisile Simelane also strengthens our team,” he said.
“It will be a big challenge up in Johannesburg and we are sure to see further growth from the players in this group, which is very exciting.”
Meanwhile, another World Cup-winning Springbok, scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse, made his comeback from injury for the Sharks in their Currie Cup win over Griquas last week and will be back in action when the Durban-based side take on the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
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