Springboks: New face in squad ready to make up for lost time in Rugby Championship
Springboks and Bulls lock Ruan Nortje.
Highly rated second-row Ruan Nortje is excited to be back in the Springboks camp for the first time since 2022 and is hoping to make up for lost time in the international arena.
After making his solitary Test appearance against Wales two years ago, Nortje has been in the international wilderness. But after shining for the Bulls during the recent United Rugby Championship – where they finished as runners-up to Glasgow Warriors – he was recalled to the Springboks squad.
Bok head coach Rassie Erasmus and his squad are currently holding a short camp in Johannesburg before their departure to Australia where their Rugby Championship campaign gets underway against the Wallabies in Brisbane on August 10.
Nortje was the only new face in the squad, which means it is the first time he is working with Erasmus’ new coaching staff which includes Tony Brown (backline coach) and Jerry Flannery (defence coach).
‘Dream to play for the Springboks’
“It has always been a dream to play for the Springboks and after getting the chance to make my debut in 2022, I’ve been working hard to try to make my way back into the squad,” said Nortje.
“I played with quite a few of the guys in 2022 and being able to play and train with them again is an absolute honour and privilege.
“Obviously the systems have changed quite a lot since the last time I was part of the team, but that excites me even more because I love learning new things and I’ve been enjoying the new aspects of the game the coaches have introduced to the set-up.”
Nortje added: “It will take time to familiarise myself with the new way of doing things, but the coaches and players have been very helpful and have taken me under their wing, so I’m certain it will be an easy transition back into the squad.
“Although it is only day one, I am excited about this adventure and getting another chance in the Bok squad.”
Erasmus said the focus at the Johannesburg camp was to familiarise the players with the Bok set-up again after many of them had a 10-day break. This, after they were released from camp before the Test against Portugal in Bloemfontein.
The Bok mentor stressed the importance of setting the tone for what he anticipates will be a vastly different challenge in the Rugby Championship.
‘Can sense the enthusiasm’
“The vibe in the camp is fantastic and one can sense the enthusiasm among the players, so the break was beneficial for both the players and coaches,” said Erasmus.
“We worked out our programme in such a way that we could fit in a few gym and training sessions on Monday and Tuesday before we travel on Wednesday, and our intention is to acclimatise as quickly as possible down under to ensure that we are as prepared as possible by the time we slot back into full Test-match mode next week before our opening game of the competition in Brisbane next week Saturday.”
After their Brisbane clash, the Springboks and Wallabies will face off again in Perth on August 17, before returning to South Africa.
They will then take on the All Blacks in back-to-back matches on August 31 in Johannesburg, and September 7 in Cape Town.
The Boks will then head out to Argentina to face Los Pumas in Santiago on September 21, before wrapping up the tournament against the same opposition in Nelspruit on September 28.
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